Inequalities of nutrition: The Namibian paradox
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Date
2012
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Namibia
Abstract
The paradoxical coexistence of obesity with undernutrition has been we!l documented
worldwide. In many developing countries, 6o % of households contain both underweight
and obese individuals, a situation referred to as the "dual burden household". The Namibian
population is simultaneously made up of groups of overweight and obese individuals as well
as a large group of underweight individuals. Based on data collected from 2003 to 2004,
28 % of Namlbians were categorized as underweight, 11 % as overweight and 7 % as obese.
Among adults, aged 30-46, 29% were categorized as overweight or obese. In a middle-income
country such as Namibia, food scarcity may no longer be the driving factor behind energy
intake. Instead, the availability of cheap, energy dense foods may facilitate the consumption
of more calories whiJe an indoor, sedentary lifestyle would further reduce the average daily
energy expenditure. Specific cultural perceptions may also encourage obesity. The 'double
burden' of disease that has been created threatens to overwhelm the health services in
Namibia. In this paper, we document reports on nutritional inequality internationally,
and in Namibia specifically, and propose a research strategy to address the burden of the
coexistence of under nutrition and obesity in Namibia. The paper documents a useful starting
point for understanding the determinants of inequalities in nutritional status and provides
some understanding of the causes of inequalities in nutritional status as well as the factors
responsible for inequalities in health and nutritional status of individuals.
Description
Keywords
Inequalities, Nutrition, Paradox, Developing, Namibia, Obese
Citation
Misihairabgwi, J. M., Rennie, T. 2012. Inequalities of nutrition: The Namibian paradox. Journal for Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences 1(1):139-146.