A coalition called the National Action on Sugar Reduction (NASR), has called for an increase in tax on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSBs) to reduce the burden of obesity.
Omei Bongos-Ikwue, a representative of the NASR, made the call during a rally on Saturday in Abuja to commemorate the 2024 World Obesity Day celebrated annually on March 4.
According to him, statistics have shown that one in eight people worldwide grapples with the disease.
He said that the alarming statistic had also revealed that 30 percent of Nigerians were overweight and that 15 percent of such figures were classified as obese.
Bongos-Ikwue said that the World Health Organization (WHO) had also underscored the global scale of the obesity crisis, with more than 1 billion people affected worldwide.
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He said that the disease was majorly attributed to excessive calorie intake and that obesity posed a significant threat to health.
According to him, SSBs emerged as the primary source of added sugar in diets and have been scientifically linked to abdominal obesity.
“SSBs are identified as a key driver of cardiometabolic diseases, including heart disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes.
“This rally featured an extensive awareness campaign, engaging choreography by volunteers, games, and informative factsheets aimed at enlightening the public.
“We urge the government to implement higher taxes on sugary drinks.
“The goal of this pro-health tax is to protect more Nigerians from the risks of obesity; alleviate the burden on the healthcare system, and promote a healthier society,” Bongos-Ikwue said.
Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a health risk. A body mass index (BMI) over 25 is considered overweight, and over 30 is obese. In 2019, an estimated 5 million noncommunicable disease (NCD) deaths were caused by higher-than-optimal BMI.
