Maseru, Aug. 18 — Dr. ‘Mamotheo Mammo Daemane, Acting Director in the office of Food and Nutrition Coordinator from the office of the Prime Minister indicated that young generation is at risk of under-nutrition, over nutrition and micro nutrients deficiencies, saying the issue of a triple burden of malnutrition is a national social and economic disaster.
She stated this while officially opening a two days landscape analysis on childhood overweight and obesity workshop, aimed at strengthening evidence for improving child nutrition in Lesotho, assess burdens and drivers of childhood overweight and obesity factors influencing healthy eating.
Dr. Daemane said the nutrition landscape is changing, therefore Lesotho needs to address the double burden of malnutrition including the growing risk of childhood overweight and obesity.
She outlined that the workshop provides an opportunity to look beyond individual interventions and understand the broader and structural factors that influence this issue in Lesotho.
She further said there is a need to identify the factors within the food, healthy and education systems that require greater attention in schools.
She outlined strengthening coordination multisectoral moves and not of FNCO alone, appealing to stakeholders to challenge evidence and share experiences and solutions to overcome these issues.
Meanwhile, Dr. Mothusi Nyofane from Mantsopa Institute while presenting gaps to childhood overweight and obesity emphasised that there are no food guidelines and implemented policies targeting unhealthy diet to mitigate the challenge.
He emphasised that the annual growth of overweight and obesity is at over 1.1% from the year 2000 to 2022.
Dr. Nyofane highlighted the need to strengthen policies like Lesotho food and nutrition policy and framework which address the double burden of malnutrition and behavior change as well as community engagement.
He further said the district of Quthing has a high female overweight of 31%, saying children at the age of 5 to 19 years are vulnerable groups affected by overweight and obesity especially girls, while those of under 5 years are at 19% minimum obesity.
The survey was undertaken in 126 planned school samples, where 124 schools were successfully interviewed with 802 children in 2 districts, focusing on fourYOU demands-nutrition food, healthy food and nutrition service among others.
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