Kenyan Health Advocate Ogweno Stephen Shares His Personal Journey With Obesity
Ogweno Stephen recently appeared on the Africa Health Pulse podcast hosted by Faith Okwisa, where he spoke openly about his lived experience with obesity, the stigma surrounding weight, and why obesity should be understood as a disease rather than a personal failure.
The conversation offered a deeply personal look into the experiences that shaped his work as a Kenyan health advocate, public health leader, and founder working at the intersection of non communicable disease prevention, youth engagement, and digital health innovation.
Growing Up With Obesity
During the podcast, Ogweno Stephen reflected on growing up with obesity from a young age and the emotional and physical challenges that came with it.
He described becoming aware of his weight during primary school when he realized his body size was significantly different from many of his peers. Over time, the condition affected not only his confidence but also his health, contributing to complications including gastrointestinal reflux disease and oral health challenges.
The podcast explored how obesity is often misunderstood in African communities, where conversations around weight are frequently reduced to personal responsibility without acknowledging genetics, environment, mental health, food systems, and broader public health factors.
Why Obesity Is a Disease
A major focus of the discussion was the need to recognize obesity as a chronic disease.
According to Ogweno Stephen, many people living with obesity experience blame, shame, and judgment rather than evidence-based support. He explained that obesity is not simply about eating less or exercising more. It is a complex condition influenced by biology, social environments, access to healthcare, stress, and broader systemic issues.
As someone who has spent years navigating weight changes, sports training, restrictive diets, and long term lifestyle adjustments, he emphasized the importance of compassionate healthcare and prevention focused public health systems.
Turning Lived Experience Into Advocacy
The experiences discussed on the podcast have also shaped Ogweno Stephen’s advocacy work through Stowelink Foundation and Lifesten Health.
His work focuses on improving health literacy, advancing prevention of non communicable diseases, and creating more inclusive conversations around obesity and chronic disease in Africa.
Over the years, he has contributed to obesity advocacy, youth engagement, research, and policy conversations both locally and internationally, including work connected to the global non communicable disease movement.
Obesity and Public Health in Africa
The discussion also highlighted the growing burden of obesity and chronic diseases across Africa.
Rates of obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease continue to rise, particularly among young people. Despite this, obesity remains heavily stigmatized and under discussed within many healthcare systems.
For Ogweno Stephen, changing this narrative requires more than medical treatment alone. It requires empathy, education, policy reform, healthier food environments, and stronger preventive healthcare systems.
Why Storytelling Matters in Health Advocacy
One of the strongest themes from the interview was the power of storytelling.
By sharing his own experiences publicly, Ogweno Stephen hopes to help more people feel seen and understood while also challenging harmful misconceptions about obesity.
He emphasized that lived experience has an important place in shaping public health conversations, especially in areas where stigma often silences people.
Watch the Full Africa Health Pulse Podcast Episode
The full interview featuring Ogweno Stephen on Africa Health Pulse is available on YouTube.
Final Reflection
For Ogweno Stephen, advocacy around obesity is deeply personal.
It is not only about policy or healthcare systems. It is also about dignity, understanding, and creating spaces where people living with chronic diseases are treated with compassion rather than judgment.
Through conversations like this, he continues to use his voice as a Kenyan health advocate to push for a more informed and humane approach to obesity and public health in Africa.
STEPHEN OGWENO 
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