Kenya Establishes Obesity Task Force After IAEA's Isotopic Study Findings

Kenya's Ministry of Health has formed a dedicated task force to address the rising rates of obesity and overweight among women, specifically those aged 20 to 49, using insights derived from a stable isotope technique supported by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This initiative was announced on July 18, 2025, following a successful application of the deuterium dilution technique, which assessed the effectiveness of a nutrition-related intervention in the country.

The need for action has become increasingly urgent; recent data indicate that obesity prevalence among women in counties such as Nyeri has reached alarming levels, with 63% of women affected. The rising rates of overweight and obesity have been attributed to unhealthy diets and physical inactivity, which have contributed to a surge in obesity-related chronic diseases. In response, the IAEA’s technical cooperation programme, along with its human health programme, facilitated a comprehensive study involving 197 women, which aimed to evaluate the impact of targeted nutrition counseling and lifestyle changes.

The participants were divided into two groups: one received bi-weekly nutrition counseling emphasizing healthy diets and physical activity, while the other served as a control group. The results demonstrated significant improvements in body composition, including reductions in weight, waist size, hip circumference, fat mass, and fat percentage among women in the intervention group. These findings were presented to key stakeholders, prompting the establishment of the task force under the Healthy Diets and Lifestyle Technical Working Group.

Dorcus Mbithe David-Kigaru, a senior lecturer at Kenyatta University and the project’s lead counterpart, emphasized the importance of community support in sustaining the improvements achieved. "To maintain these body composition improvements, it is crucial to establish support groups among women with similar socioeconomic backgrounds and to engage community health practitioners collaboratively," she stated.

Eric Ngereso Kihugwa, a nutritionist at Kenyatta National Hospital and chair of the newly formed task force, highlighted that Kenya has made limited progress towards addressing diet-related non-communicable diseases, thereby underscoring the necessity for effective guidelines and interventions.

Cornelia Loechl, head of Nutritional and Health-related Environmental Studies in the IAEA Division of Human Health, remarked on the significant role that stable isotope techniques can play in enhancing public health. "By generating reliable data, these methodologies enable policymakers and program stakeholders to implement more nuanced, evidence-based actions that target global health challenges effectively," she noted.

This initiative represents a critical step towards improving health outcomes in Kenya, where obesity and overweight issues are escalating. The task force aims to develop national body weight management guidelines over the next year, leveraging the research findings to create targeted interventions that can effectively combat the dual burden of malnutrition. As the task force convenes, Kenya hopes to make significant strides in managing obesity and improving public health through informed, evidence-based strategies.