result of lifestyle changes, unhealthy food choices and a decrease in physical activity. “coupled to obesity comes the threat of related illnesses such as diabetes”. presenting at the upcoming public health conference at africa health exhibition & congress on the topic of “diabesity — trends in the overweight and diabetes in africa”, kengne explains that this is an area of medicine which is still relatively unknown in the african setting. research conducted over the past 20 years has not delved into the extent to which diabetes affects women between the ages of 16 and 49. however, according to a recent overview jointly conducted by the university of cape town, non--communicable diseases research unit and witwatersrand university, 7% of african women aged 15 to 54 years are currently suffering from diabetes. the key driver of the increase in diabetes among women of child bearing age is lifestyle change, said kengne. “there are a number of reasons for this changing lifestyle on the african continent, amongst them poverty, lack of access to nutritious food and the dearth of both knowledge and financial means to make healthy food choices, not to mention the increased availability of unhealthy fast food offerings as western diets become more popular.” diabetes is not only impacting adult women. as children and adolescents become overweight earlier in life, they are at an increased risk of developing several chronic illnesses including diabetes. even pregnant women are at risk of