South Africa is grappling with a growing childhood obesity crisis, as global figures reveal that the number of overweight children has now surpassed those who are underweight for the first time. Nowhere is this more visible than in schools, communities, and families where the convenience of fast food is clashing with urgent calls for healthier living.
At the Kairos School of Inquiry in Randburg, children queue excitedly at lunchtime to be served freshly prepared vegetarian meals, part of the school’s radical food policy aimed at combating the worrying rise in obesity among young people. On the menu are kitchari, tomato chutney, halloumi, and salads, all prepared under the leadership of headteacher Marc Loon, who insists that children must be taught the value of whole foods early in life. Parents at the school are also required to pack nutritious, natural foods in their children’s lunchboxes. Loon argues that if more schools followed suit, the long-term health of children across South Africa would dramatically improve.
The urgency behind such efforts is clear. According to the United Nations, the number of overweight and obese teenagers worldwide has nearly tripled in the last two decades. For children aged five to nine, the figures have more than doubled, jumping from 69 million to 147 million globally. South Africa is among the worst affected countries, with 22% of children under five now overweight or obese, a shocking increase from 13% in 2016.
Behind these statistics are deeply personal stories. Mamkhabela Mthembu, a young trainee lawyer, recalls how junk food was once a celebratory treat during her childhood, but later became an unhealthy daily staple while she studied at university. Living above a fast food restaurant, she developed eating habits that led to obesity, gum disease, and breathing issues. Today, she advocates for UNICEF, urging young people to be more aware of the hidden dangers of processed and high-calorie foods.
Families face added challenges when health problems intersect with food insecurity. In Alexandra township, Memory Padi’s eight-year-old daughter Sophia, who suffers from a rare autoimmune disease, gained extreme weight after steroid treatments. Despite eating a relatively normal diet, Sophia now weighs 107kg and struggles with mobility, attracting unwanted attention in public. Her mother, unemployed and struggling financially, says access to nutritious food and structured activities like swimming could transform her daughter’s health, but limited resources make this difficult.
The crisis is worsened by South Africa’s booming fast food industry, valued at $2.7 billion in 2018 and expected to reach nearly $5 billion by 2026. More households, even in middle-income brackets, are increasingly turning to fast food as a convenient option. UNICEF nutrition manager Gilbert Tshitaudzi argues that the issue cannot simply be blamed on individuals. He stresses that the environment plays a decisive role in shaping dietary habits, urging the government to restrict marketing of unhealthy foods to children and improve access to affordable, nutritious alternatives.
Although South Africa introduced a sugar tax in 2018, the measure has failed to slow the rising obesity rates among children. High unemployment levels mean that while the country is technically food-secure, many households cannot afford healthier options. This creates a vicious cycle where cheap, unhealthy foods become the default for millions of families.
At the heart of the crisis lies a broader global trend one that shows how fast food and convenience culture are reshaping diets in low- and middle-income countries. Once viewed as a luxury for wealthier households, fast food is now widespread and aspirational, with aggressive marketing campaigns targeting younger generations.
Back at Kairos School, however, a different future is being envisioned. Children enjoy whole-grain sandwiches, fresh fruit, and vegetables, instilling habits that may protect them against the rising tide of obesity. Until governments enforce stronger policies and environments that enable healthier lifestyles, much of the burden will continue to fall on schools, parents, and individuals committed to safeguarding the next generation.
South Africa’s fight against childhood obesity is not just about food it is about equity, access, and the urgent need to challenge the influence of an expanding fast food culture. Without decisive action, today’s childhood obesity crisis could spiral into tomorrow’s public health disaster.
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