AT least one in three Tanzanian women – that’s 36 in every 100 – aged between 20 and 49 years are either overweight or obese, a new study has revealed, raising concerns on the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the country.

The study, ‘Prevalence and associated factors of overweight and obesity among adult women in Tanzania from the 2022 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey’ led by Tanzanian scientists with contributions from the Ifakara Health Institute (IHI), analysed data from the 2022 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey and the Malaria Indicator Survey (TDHS–MIS), noting the finding that 36 percent of women in this age group were overweight or obese.

The research, published on the journal ‘Scientific Reports’ late September, warns that the trend—driven by changing diets and lifestyles—poses a threat to women’s health and the nation’s healthcare system.

Underlining that being overweight and obesity are major risk factors for chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and heart disease, contributors warned that if the trend continues—especially amid the rising burden of lifestyle-related diseases—Tanzania could face a growing health crisis that strains the healthcare system and threatens national health progress.

Understanding and addressing these factors will help empower women to take control of their health and combat being overweight nationwide, they said, citing urban residency, older age, higher education level, higher economic status, consumption of unhealthy foods, smoking and frequency of television watching as tied with obesity and overweight risks.

Women living in urban areas are more likely to be overweight or obese than those in rural settings, as urbanization has largely changed eating habits. Many city residents opt for fast, affordable street foods often high in calories, with limited green spaces, lack of pedestrian walkways and reliance on motorized transport contributing to inactive lifestyles, it further noted.

“The rise of convenient food options and sedentary work patterns in cities is fueling the obesity problem. Many people now spend most of their day sitting — at work, in vehicles and at home — with little time devoted for physical activity,” the study affirmed.

Older women, those with higher education levels and women from wealthier households were more likely to be overweight or obese, with lifestyle and behavioral changes accompanying these factors playing a major role.

“Older women tend to engage in less physical activity, while educated and economically able women often face time constraints that limit exercise,’ the researchers explained, pointing at unhealthy eating habits, including the frequent consumption of sugary drinks and high-fat foods, as major contributors to weight gain.

A link between smoking and higher odds of obesity among women was also noticed, while women who watched television less than once a week were more likely to be overweight compared to those who watched TV more often.

The researchers urge the Ministry of Health and other health stakeholders to design targeted interventions focusing on women’s health and nutrition, empowering women with health risk awareness and an economic environment that makes healthy foods more affordable and accessible. 

The ministry and other health stakeholders should design programmes to combat overweight and obesity, targeting older women by incorporating health topics into the educational curriculum, they stated.

“This approach will effectively empower women to combat the tendency to be overweight in the country,” the researchers added.