CAPPA Calls For Stronger Food Policies To Combat Rising Health Crisis On World Obesity Day
Princess-Ekwi Ajide
Obesity for years has been perceived as a problem exclusive to wealthy nations, but the tide has shifted dramatically.
Today, low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria are grappling with a growing obesity crisis, largely driven by changing food habits and the dominance of ultra-processed, sugary foods.
Marking World Obesity Day (WOD) 2025, the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) renewed its push for comprehensive healthy food policies to curb Nigeria’s increasing burden of obesity and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
In a statement on March 4, 2025, CAPPA raised concerns about the rising consumption of sugary drinks, calling for an increase in the Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSB) tax from N10 to N130 per litre or at least 20% of the retail price. The goal? To discourage excessive intake of these unhealthy products and encourage a shift towards nutritious, indigenous diets.
CAPPA’s Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, warned that obesity is no longer a distant threat.
Global projections from the World Obesity Federation (WOF) estimate that 1.9 billion people—one in four—will be living with obesity by 2035, doubling childhood obesity rates within the same period.
“The reality is stark. Over 21 million overweight and 12 million obese Nigerians above age 15 highlight an urgent need for action,” Oluwafemi stated.
He criticised food corporations for aggressively marketing unhealthy ultra-processed foods to children and young people, warning that obesity-related illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, and respiratory diseases are eroding the nation’s workforce and productivity.
Aligning with the WOD theme, “Changing Systems, Healthier Lives,” CAPPA emphasised the responsibility of food systems, healthcare services, governments, and communities in addressing the obesity crisis.
The organisation urged the government to prioritize public health over corporate interests by enforcing stricter regulations on unhealthy food marketing and investing SSB tax proceeds into the healthcare sector.
“Taking action on obesity is critical to reducing the burden of other chronic diseases,” Oluwafemi added, stressing that Nigeria cannot afford to ignore the warnings.
