Rising Obesity Threat to Kazakhstan's Youth: Strategies for Protecting the Future Generation
In Kazakhstan, the issue of childhood obesity has become a significant concern, with experts such as dietitian Gulbala Esenbekkyzy and UNICEF's child development program coordinator, Larisa Tikhonova, highlighting the problem.
According to Esenbekkyzy, a balanced diet for children should consist of 50% complex carbohydrates, 20% fats, and 30% proteins. Breakfast should include eggs, fish, chicken, and dairy products, while lunch is recommended to be soups and meat with side dishes. Dinner, on the other hand, should be light, consisting of vegetables, fruits, salads, and chicken dishes.
The highest number of children with excess weight reside in Nur-Sultan and the Karaganda region. As of January 1, 2021, 6,491 children aged 0 to 17 were under obesity treatment in Kazakhstan. The World Food Organization projects that, without improvements in diet and regulations, 533,000 children aged 5 to 19 will have excess weight by 2030.
The National Center for Public Health acknowledges the problem of excess weight in children in Kazakhstan. Lack of physical activity, improper diet, diabetes, and hormonal imbalances are contributing to the increase in obesity among Kazakh children.
To combat this issue, Kazakhstan has taken several measures. The government has banned the sale of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in schools and implemented a 2024 law prohibiting the sale of energy drinks to persons under 21. These steps aim to reduce sugar consumption, a major obesity risk factor. Additionally, Kazakhstan has executed strong tobacco control policies, which indirectly support healthier environments.
However, policy gaps remain in marketing restrictions of unhealthy foods to children, salt reduction, and full regulation of breast milk substitutes and trans fats. The government plans to address these as part of ongoing collaboration with WHO Europe to strengthen non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention strategies, including childhood obesity.
Experts suggest starting with eliminating carbonated drinks and fast food to prevent obesity. To prevent children from consuming unhealthy food, it is advised to monitor their diet closely.
While medical treatment is important, the focus on changing obesogenic environments (like removing sugary drinks from schools) and legislating age limits on energy drink purchases reflects a preventive approach focusing on children's nutritional intake. Continued investments in health information systems and data infrastructure aim to enable evidence-based policymaking to combat childhood obesity and related diseases further.
Sources for this information include Mira Alzhanova, Daniar Omar, and Almaty TV, as well as UNICEF globally, which emphasizes improving nutrition and physical activity through comprehensive, life-course approaches. These efforts likely inform Kazakhstan's efforts to combat childhood obesity.
Science plays a crucial role in understanding the factors contributing to childhood obesity in Kazakhstan, such as lack of physical activity and improper diet. To promote health-and-wellness among children, experts recommend focused attention on nutrition, emphasizing a balanced diet consisting of 50% complex carbohydrates, 20% fats, and 30% proteins.
