Tanzania Steps Up Efforts Against Both Undernutrition and Rising Obesity

Tanzania has intensified efforts to tackle the double burden of malnutrition by addressing undernutrition while curbing rising cases of overweight, obesity, and diet-related non-communicable diseases, AllAfrica reported. Dr Grace Magembe, Permanent Secretary in Tanzania's Ministry of Health, said prevention of obesity has become a public health priority alongside existing malnutrition interventions.

She spoke during an introductory session of the International Congress on Overweight and Obesity held in Mexico from July 15-17, 2026.

Magembe credited government investment in scientific evidence for guiding policy and strengthening nutrition work. Tanzania has completed a National Investment Case Assessment for preventing overweight and obesity, assessed the nutritional quality of packaged foods on the market, and conducted studies on how consumers interpret nutrition labels and how those labels affect purchases.

The country has also developed a National Nutrient Profile Model and joined development of an East African Community regional framework for assessing food nutritional quality.

Magembe said the frameworks will support future measures such as warning labels on food packages, regulation of unhealthy food advertisements aimed at children, and improvements to nutrition environments in schools and communities. She attributed the progress to collaboration among the government, research institutions, higher learning institutions, civil society organisations and development partners.