Question NW64 to the Minister of Health
22 February 2023 - NW64
Macpherson, Mr DW to ask the Minister of Health
Whether his department possesses any research on the levels of obesity in the Republic prior to the implementation of the Health Promotion Levy; if not, why not; if so, (a) by whom was the research conducted, (b) on what date was the research conducted, (c) what did the research reveal about obesity levels in the Republic and (d) will he furnish Mr D W Macpherson with a copy of the research?
Reply:
Yes, the Department relies on scientific evidence, when analysing South Africa’s risk factors to non-communicable diseases. Obesity is one of the risk factors.
(a) and (b) In this regard please see the two studies below:
- Wandai M, Aagaard-Hansen J, Day C, Sartorius B, Hofman KJ. Available data sources for monitoring non-communicable diseases and their risk factors in South Africa. S Afr Med J, March 2017;107(4):331-337. doi: 10.7196/SAMJ.2017.v107i4.11438. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28395686
- Moodley G, Christofides N, Norris S, Achia T, Hofman KJ. Obesogenic environments in SA: A pilot study in Soweto. Preventing Chronic Disease. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd12.140559, 2015
- South Africa Demographic and Health Survey 2016 https://dhsprogram.com › pubs › pdf
(c) Studies revealed that obesity levels in South Arica are on the increase. The NDHS also revealed that obesity in South Africa was on the increase and that 31% of adult males, 67% of adult females, and 13% of children under five years old were either overweight or obese.
(d) Copies of the studies are available from the links in (a) and (b) above.
END.