Chief Medical Director, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Prof. Jesse Otegbayo, has expressed concern over obesity, saying it is becoming an increasing health concern in the country.

According to Otegbayo, who spoke in Ibadan on Wednesday, 25 per cent of Nigerians are overweight.

The chief medical director stated this in his keynote address at the opening of the 2021 National Scientific Conference of Dietitians Association of Nigeria (DAN).

NAN also reports that the theme of the conference is: “Sustainable Food Systems: The Role of Dietitians and Impact on National Development”.

“Malnutrition does not involve under-nutrition only but it also encompasses over-nutrition, bearing in mind the increasing prevalence of obesity globally, Nigeria inclusive.

“It has become a growing health threat globally.

“Research has shown a pooled crude prevalence of overweight persons in Nigeria as at 2020 to be placed at 25 per cent, meaning one in every four adults in the country is overweight,” Otegbayo said.

According to him, being overweight or obese has its attendant health problems which can have individual, social and economic consequences.

“Therefore, making healthy food choices on the advice of a dietitian is very important for both health promotion and disease prevention, with the inclusion of curative measures in the advent of diseases,” he said.

Otegbayo added that the role of dietitians in disease prevention and management was also very important.

“The improved quality of life through appropriate feeding helps to prolong and give meaning to life, despite the occurrences of chronic medical illnesses.

“In the era of evidence-based medical practice, nutrition- based researches are a major area where dietitians can make impact through review on our local ingredients and the nutrient values of our locally-grown foods.

“For many of our food supplies, such as the sugar-based drinks which have flooded the markets, some fast foods which have readily available meals that are largely consumed by our young children, what nourishing values do they have?

“As educators of health, these evidence-based practices will help advance the education and counselling given to our numerous clients and patients,” he said.

The CMD added that this would protect them against consumption of unhealthy and poorly-nutritious meals, with its resultant consequence on the home and the nation as a whole.

In her welcome address, the National President, DAN, Prof. Elizabeth Ngwu, said that the role of dietitians in the health sector was paramount, especially with the increase in incidence of diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Ngwu, represented by Mr Emmanuel Ukwondi, First Vice-President, DAN, said that the importance of an adequate diet to good health could not be over-emphasised.

Also speaking, Director of Nursing Services, Ministry of Health, Oyo State, Mr Aderemi Ajiboye, said that dietitians must take on the responsibility of providing sustainable solutions to the problem of malnutrition in the country.

According to him, dietitians, as advocates of healthy eating, play key role in reversing the trend of NCDs in the country.