According to the Physicians Association for Nutrition (PAN) South Africa, the country’s dietary guidelines should be updated to reflect advances in nutrition science, the rise in lifestyle diseases and the environmental impact of food systems. The country’s current guidelines have remained unchanged since 2012. In a new policy brief, PAN proposes strengthening the existing framework rather than replacing it. Recommendations…
Tag: malnutrition
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Child Hunger Worsens Despite Improved National Food Security
A troubling paradox has emerged from South Africa’s latest food security data: while the nation’s overall food security shows signs of recovery, the number of households with children experiencing hunger has significantly increased. This trend casts a dark shadow over the country’s progress and highlights a deepening crisis for its most vulnerable citizens. The SA Food Security Index 2025, which…
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Impact of Food Insecurity on Obesity Rates in South Africa
South Africa has the highest obesity rate in Africa, with half of all adults classified as overweight or obese—68% of women and 38% of men. Shockingly, nearly 70% of obese adults live in food-insecure households, relying on cheap, energy-dense, yet nutrient-poor foods. As the world marked World Obesity Day this week, the Association for Dietetics in South Africa (Adsa) warned…