1 Answer

Despite the growing problem, many sub-Saharan Africans do not find the region's increasing waistline to be of concern. Instead, obesity and fatness in general are widely viewed as a positive. Prof. Philip James, chairman of the International Obesity Task Force, found that the "index of affluence and power is linked to one's size." In other words, bigger is better, even if its unhealthy. HIV/AIDS is another unlikely factor in the acceptance of obesity. The virus, known as "slim disease" throughout Africa, is strongly associated with weight loss. So being fat is viewed as a "great thing because it means you don't have HIV," says James. Some Africans, he adds, purposely gain large amounts of weight to prove that they don't have the disease.

Read more here>>>http://www.newsweek.com/africas-growing-obesity-problem-78827