Among sub-Saharan Africans in general, a generation or so ago, there was very little gain in weight, or in blood pressure, with age. Even at present, in most populations, especially in the indigent masses, @entity28 prevalence remains very low, at 1-5%. However, in South Africa and some neighbouring countries, Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe, with rise in socio-economic status, urbanization, and diminishing physical activity, the proportion affected has increased. Rises, as noted in Cape Town, have been only slight in @entity1 , to 8%; but in @entity1 much more so, to 34%, ie to a level similar to that of African-American @entity1 . Dietarily, energy intake has increased slightly, that from fat from 15-20% to 25-30%. However, there have been falls in dietary fibre intake, to 20-25 g and 15-20 g daily, in rural and urban areas, respectively. Evidence suggests that the health disadvantage of @entity28 in African @entity1 is less than that in white @entity1 , and would seem to have little influence on their proneness to @entity101 , @entity301 and @entity0 . Traditionally, and even currently, sociologically, the disorder carries little opprobrium. As to the future, the prevalence in @entity1 may well increase still further. Regarding treatment, unfortunately among African @entity1 desirous of losing weight, sustained reducing measures are near impossible; moreover, pharmacological treatment is too costly to implement.

World pandemic of XXXX : the situation in Southern African populations.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['women', 'men'] @entity0 :: ('MESH:D001943', 'Disease') :: ['breast cancer'] @entity101 :: ('MESH:D006973', 'Disease') :: ['hypertension'] @entity28 :: ('MESH:D009765', 'Disease') :: ['obesity'] @entity301 :: ('MESH:D003327', 'Disease') :: ['coronary heart disease']
@entity28 :: (MESH:D009765,Disease) :: ['obesity']
