insert_link Interview Transcripts Interview: High Sugar Consumption in Baby Foods Sparks Health Alarm Photo: NAFSAN Windhoek, Namibia — The Nutrition and Food Security Alliance of Namibia (NAFSAN) has raised urgent concerns about the rising consumption of sugar, particularly among young children, in an interview with director Ben Schernick. The issue, he says, goes beyond individual dietary preferences and has deep public health and economic implications. “One of our biggest concerns is the high level of sugar consumption, especially among children between the ages […] today15 December, 2025
insert_link Health / Medical Schernick Calls for Action on Sugar Consumption Ben Schernick, director of the Nutrition and Food Security Alliance of Namibia warns that the government’s 2010 VAT exemption on white and brown sugar is effectively encouraging harmful sugar consumption. He emphasizes the need for legislation, company monitoring, and public awareness campaigns to address rising rates of obesity, diabetes, and other sugar-related health problems. today15 December, 2025
insert_link Lifestyle Return to traditional diets could help prevent eye diseases Blood sugar levels test (Photo: www.eyeqindia.com) The Ophthalmological Society of South Africa has raised concern over the increasing number of people in their 30s and 40s developing Type 2 diabetes, which heightens the risk of cataracts. Society representative Mpopi Lenake said research shows lifestyle factors such as obesity, smoking, long-term exposure to ultraviolet rays without sunglasses, and poor diets are driving the trend. Separately, renowned ophthalmologist Dr. Helena Ndume echoed […] today24 September, 2025
insert_link Africa Sugar in baby food: why Nestlé needs to be held to account in Africa By Susan Goldstein, University of the Witwatersrand Nestlé has been criticised for adding sugar and honey to infant milk and cereal products sold in many poorer countries. The Swiss food giant controls 20% of the baby-food market, valued at nearly US$70 billion. Nadine Dreyer asked public health academic Susan Goldstein why extra sugar is particularly bad for babies and how multinationals targeting low-income countries with sweeter products […] today25 April, 2024
insert_link Africa Diet and nutrition: how well Tanzanians eat depends largely on where they live By Hannah Ameye, University of Bonn Cities are growing faster in sub-Saharan Africa than elsewhere, with an annual urban population growth rate of around 4% compared to the world average of 1.5%. Across the continent the urban share of the total population is projected to increase to 50% by 2030 and 60% by 2050. Urbanisation is associated with lifestyle changes such as less physical activity and less […] today9 April, 2024
Health / Medical Almost 50% of adult South Africans are overweight or obese. Poverty and poor nutrition are largely to blame By Thokozani Simelane, Human Sciences Research Council Malnutrition, in all its forms, includes undernutrition (wasting, stunting, underweight), inadequate vitamins or minerals, overweight and obesity. South Africa has undergone a nutritional transition over the past 30 years characterised by the triple burden of malnutrition: households are simultaneously experiencing undernutrition, hidden hunger, and overweight or obesity due to nutrient-poor diets. Results of the first in-depth, nationwide study into food […] today18 March, 2024
insert_link Health / Medical South Africa has more than 4 million people living with diabetes – many aren’t getting proper treatment By Patrick Ngassa Piotie, University of Pretoria Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects how the body turns food into energy. In South Africa there has been a notable rise in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in recent years, due to changing diets. People are consuming more processed foods, sugary drinks and high-calorie meals. Other factors are the lack of physical activity and high levels of […] today7 March, 2024
insert_link Health / Medical Global obesity rates double among adults, quadruple among children The number of obese people worldwide has surpassed one billion, according to global analysis. Research published by The Lancet journal shows 879 million adults and 159 million children were obese in 2022 - the most recent year included in the analysis. The data shows that globally, obesity rates among children and adolescents quadrupled from 1990 to 2022, while rates among adults more than doubled. The numbers, according to local Dietician […] today4 March, 2024
insert_link Lifestyle One in eight people are now living with obesity A new study released by the Lancet shows that, in 2022, more than 1 billion people in the world are now living with obesity. Worldwide, obesity among adults has more than doubled since 1990, and has quadrupled among children and adolescents (5 to 19 years of age). The data also show that 43% of adults were overweight in 2022. The study also shows that even though the rates of undernutrition have […] today1 March, 2024
