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The impact of obesity on the South African economy

Thesis (MBA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The prevalence of overweight and obesity escalated over the past 30 years worldwide in
adults, children, and adolescents. Estimates are that 26% of the global adult population is
either overweight or obese. However, the most alarming fact is the increase in obesity in
children and adolescents. In South Africa, the estimated overweight and obesity
prevalence in adults is 45% and 20% in children below 6 years of age.
The World Heath Organisation acknowledges obesity as an unforgiving, formidable
chronic disease, an eminent global epidemic, and the most significant independent risk
factor to chronic disease. There are about 30 different diseases associated with obesity of
which cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, lifestyle cancers, depression, and
diabetes are the most prominent. The current rising obesity trends increase the prevalence
of these obesity-associated diseases, as well as a wide range of psychosocial problems.
Global expectations are that weight-related chronic disease will develop into the most
significant healthcare problem in the 21st century.
The overarching trend of globalisation has transformed the global landscape into a more
obesogenic environment with resultant changes in behavioural lifestyles of increased
caloric consumption and less physical activity at home and at work. However, genetic,
social, and cultural determinants enhance weight gain, which contributes largely to current
obesity trends.
Obesity is a major public healthcare problem in South Africa, with African women and
Caucasian men most at risk. However, the competing priorities of unemployment, poverty,
and HIV/AIDS place high demands on the South African economy, with resultant neglect
of obesity.
Obesity has the potential to incur a large impact on the South African economy through the
reduction in labour productivity, corporate profitability, and national output, especially in
combination with HIV/AIDS. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die insidensie van oorgewig en obesiteit het toegeneem oor die afgelope 30 jaar
wereldwyd in volwassenes, tieners, en kinders. Omtrent 26% van die globale populasie is
of oorgewig of vetsugtig. Die erns van die huidige situasie is egter die toenemende
voorkoms van obesiteit in kinders en tieners. Die voorkoms van oorgewig en obesiteit in
Suid-Afrika word geskat op 45% in volwassenes en 20% in kinders jonger as 6 jaar.
Die Wereld Gesondheid Organisasie het in 1997 obesiteit geklassifiseer as 'n chroniese
siekte en hul kommer uitgespreek oor die feit dat obesiteit epidemiese proporsies bereik
het. Obesiteit word ook nou erken as die belangrikste, onafhanklike risiko faktor vir
chroniese siekte. Obesiteit word geassosieer met omtrent 30 verskillende siektetoestande
waarvan kardiovaskulere siekte, metaboliese sindroom, lewensstyl kankers, depressie, en
diabetes die belangrikste is. Stygende obesiteit syfers verhoog ook die voorkoms van
hierdie siektes asook verskeie psigososiale probleme. Verwagtings is dat gewig verwante
siektes die belangrikste gesondheid probleme sal wees gedurende die 21 ste eeu.
Die proses van globalisasie het die wereld landskap verander in 'n omgewing wat meer
obesogenies is, wat gelei het tot veranderings in leefstyle in die rigting van 'n hoër inname
van kaloriee en minder aktiewe leefstyle. Genetiese, sosiale, en kulturele faktore verhoog
ook die vatbaarheid van die individu tot gewig toename en speel 'n groot rol in die huidige
obesiteit status.
Obesiteit is tans 'n geweldige gesondheidprobleem in Suid-Afrika met Swart vrouens en
Blanke mans die populasiegroepe wat die hoogste risiko dra. Die probleem is egter dat die
kompeterende prioriteite van werkloosheid, armoede, en MIV/VIGS alreeds hoe eise stel
aan die Suid-Afrikaans ekonomie met gevolglike verwaarlosing van obesiteit.
Obesiteit het die potensiaal om 'n groot effek uit te oefen op die Suid-Afrikaanse ekonomie
deur middel van 'n verlies in produktiwiteit, verminderde korporatiewe wins, en
ekonomiese groei, veral in kombinasie met MIV/VIGS.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/14624
Date03 1900
CreatorsHattingh, Comien
ContributorsRoux, A., University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Graduate School of Business.
PublisherStellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
Languageen_ZA
Detected LanguageUnknown
TypeThesis
RightsUniversity of Stellenbosch

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