As Africa becomes more reliant on technology, people are getting less excercise thus leading to a nationwide weight gain. In the past, bikes and walking were the most common forms of transportation whereas nowadays Africans are adopting Western customs along with the health issues that come with, such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Changing everyday habits are causing people to lose excercise they once got without knowing it. In a continent where AIDS and malaria are still causes for concern, problems linked to urbanization are added to the mix.
Fast food is seen as a status symbol in Africa. Ida Mulenga, a Johannesburg veterinarian says, "if you're eating McDonald's in your house, it means you've got money in your house." Another factor is time. Many families are too busy with their lives to find the time to excercise. Kenyan cardiologist Elijah Ogola said, "Generally our lives are so crowded that if you can afford to excercise you do not have the time to." While industrialization can be a good thing, Africa must be aware of the negative side effects as well.
written by Amy Mori
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