Mercy Adoyo, a 32-year-old mother of three, recalls her third antenatal clinic session in late March 2024. During this visit, the nurse on duty asked her to spare a few minutes for a special talk.
“The nurse told me I was overweight and hypertensive. She said I needed to start a weight loss program to reduce the risk of developing heart disease and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs),” Mercy, who lives in Nairobi’s Greenspan area, told Afya Watch.
Mercy initially disregarded the advice due to her active lifestyle and previous experience managing a brief occurrence of hypertension.
“I didn’t take her seriously because I have always been a curvy woman without a history of serious illness. I had previously suffered from hypertension but managed to overcome the crisis,” the vivacious fishmonger adds.
Many Kenyans, particularly women, struggle with obesity and weight-related health problems. This is partly due to a lack of awareness about healthy food choices and busy lifestyles that limit access to fresh produce.
Statistics from the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) 2022 show that 17% of Kenyan women aged between 20 and 49 years are obese, compared to only 4% of men.
Public health experts attribute this trend to several factors. Jane Mangwana of the African Population and Health Research Centre (APHRC) emphasizes the importance of food choices, especially when shopping.
“More women are affected by obesity and overweight in Kenya. This is a wake-up call for all of us when it comes to our food purchase choices, especially when we are out shopping,” she says.
A 2018 study published by the National Institute of Health highlights the economic challenges that Kenyans face in prioritizing preventative healthcare.
“The high prevalence of poverty and income inequality forces many Kenyans to focus on immediate medical needs rather than preventive measures. Hence, prevention strategies would be the most efficient approach to mitigating NCDs in an LMIC like Kenya,” reads the study by US-based researchers Edward Onyango and Benjamin Onyango.
Rise of Non-Communicable Diseases in Kenya
Research findings further indicate that the national upsurge in NCDs that began over two decades ago was driven by a rise in income levels and the supply of specific food types followed by a corresponding drop in physical activity rates.
“There was a rapid rise in the incidence of circulatory disease starting in 2001, and of hypertension and diabetes starting in 2008. The rise of these NCDs, especially hypertension and diabetes, was accompanied over the same period by a rise in per capita GDP and physical inactivity, as measured by increased urbanization and a declining proportion of agricultural and forestry wage jobs, a rise in per capita supply of rice, wheat and its products, and cooking oils; and a decline in the per capita supply of maize and sugar,” reads the report.
“The close association between these changes in diet, physical activity, and the rise of NCDs like hypertension, circulatory disease, and diabetes is a cause for concern. It suggests that these modifiable factors – what we eat and how active we are – may be playing a major role in Kenya’s NCD crisis,” the authors note.
Another hospital-based study on heart disease among pregnant women carried out by researchers Dr. Lumsden, Dr. Barasa, and others found that cardiac disease is associated with significant maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality among pregnant women in western Kenya
The NCD Alliance Kenya, an advocacy group, works to raise awareness about NCDs and promote healthy lifestyles. Dr. Catherine Karekezi of the NCD Alliance emphasizes the dangers of unhealthy diets high in refined sugar, salt, and fat. These diets increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and diabetes.
“Unhealthy diets with high sugar, salt, and fat levels can raise the risk of developing complications like cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes, as well as sedentary lifestyles that involve sitting for long hours and engaging in minimal exercise,” she says.
While encouraging people living with NCDs to adhere to prescribed medication, Dr. Karekezi also discourages the use of untested herbal remedies, which can have serious health consequences.
“NCDs can be managed through healthy diets and adherence to prescribed medication. Using herbal remedies whose chemical composition is unknown and untested can result in organ failure, adverse reactions, and other serious complications,” says the pharmaceutical expert.
Returning to Healthy Habits
After giving birth to her son, Mercy was once again forced to confront her unhealthy dietary habits. She was advised to take medication to control her hypertension.
“Back in my Kendu Bay, Homa Bay County home, we enjoyed the traditional, home-cooked meals that my mother prepared, consisting of balanced portions of fish, smoked beef, various cereals, fruit, and vegetables,” she says.
Her new life in the city, with its long working hours and limited access to fresh produce, led her to rely on easily available but unhealthy processed foods including soda, fizzy beverages, sugary juices with artificial flavors, French fries, sausages, smokies, cakes, and energy drinks.
She is determined to return to a healthier diet and lifestyle but acknowledges the difficulty of breaking her addiction to sugary, salty, and high-fat snacks.
“It will be a fight to resume my old diet due to the tasty snacks I had become addicted to, but I must adjust accordingly. I have also bought a skipping rope and running shoes for my fitness schedule,” she says. “I want to live a healthier life for better health and my family’s sake,” Mercy concludes.
To enjoy a more vibrant and disease-free life, Kenyans need to be empowered with knowledge about healthy eating and supported by policies and initiatives that make healthy choices more accessible. World Hypertension Day is marked on May 17, 2024. Ensure you get tested and if diagnosed with hypertension, consult your doctor to prescribe the required medication and diet plan to manage it.
