The global and regional projections of overweight and obesity prevalence are alarming, with estimates indicating a significant rise in the coming years. It is predicted that by 2035, 4 billion people globally will be affected by overweight and obesity. The SADC region is not exempt from this trend, with prevalence expected to increase rapidly, particularly among girls and women. A recent study revealed that the prevalence of overweight and obesity in the region has doubled in adults and increased significantly in children since 1990. This high burden of overweight and obesity coexists with undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies, representing a triple burden of malnutrition in the region. The World Health Organization has called for urgent action to address obesity as part of achieving the SDG target to reduce premature mortality from NCDs. In response to this health challenge, SADC has committed to developing an obesity strategy to guide multi-sectoral efforts in preventing overweight and obesity
