Recently, Ogweno Stephen, a global health enthusiast, had the opportunity to speak at The Lancet Summit: Childhood obesity – consequences across the lifecourse online event. His session, Session 8 – Community-driven solutions from around the world and youth engagement, focused on the impact of obesity in Sub-Saharan Africa and the role of youth in tackling this issue.
During the session, Ogweno highlighted the staggering statistics surrounding childhood obesity in Sub-Saharan Africa, which has become a major public health concern. He emphasized the need for community-driven solutions to tackle this issue, with a focus on youth engagement. According to him, young people have a crucial role to play in advocating for policies that promote healthy lifestyles and in holding policymakers accountable for addressing childhood obesity.
Ogweno also spoke about the importance of youth inclusion in policy-making processes. He urged young people to bring a chair and join the tables where obesity policies are made. This means that they need to be actively involved in discussions around policy formulation and implementation. By doing so, they can provide valuable insights and perspectives that can help shape effective policies and programs to address childhood obesity.
Overall, Ogweno’s presentation at The Lancet Summit highlighted the urgent need to address childhood obesity in Sub-Saharan Africa and the important role of youth in this effort. By engaging young people in community-driven solutions and policy-making processes, we can work towards a future where all children have access to healthy food choices and opportunities for physical activity.
STEPHEN OGWENO 