Victoria – To curb rising rates of obesity, Seychelles is implementing a range of measures from health promotion campaigns in schools, workplaces and public spaces, to free screening, diagnosis and treatment for people with chronic diseases.

One of the primary drivers of obesity in Seychelles is the growing prevalence of sedentary lifestyles and the excessive consumption of sugary food and drinks.  Studies have shown that high consumption of sugary beverages such as soft drinks and energy drinks, along with poor dietary habits, contribute significantly to the obesity crisis. Additionally, lack of adequate physical activity, especially in urban areas, has exacerbated the situation. This aligns with WHO’s findings on how urbanization and lifestyle changes contribute to rising obesity levels in island states.

These trends are the main causes of obesity in Seychelles. Almost three-quarters of women and more than 50% of men reported insufficient physical activity measured against World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for adults of at least 150 minutes of physical activity per week.

In adults, WHO defines obesity as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more. Data show that obesity in Seychelles has risen sharply in the last two or so decades, from 13% among women and 4% among men in 2000 to 49% and 27% in 2023, respectively.

These efforts aim to reverse the health risks associated with obesity, higher BMI is strongly associated with high blood pressure and high levels of blood glucose, which contribute to chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. In Seychelles, 42% of women and 38% of men aged 18‒74 have high blood pressure and the prevalence of diabetes among older adults aged 55‒74 is over 30%. Chronic diseases are the leading cause of death in Seychelles, accounting for 53% of all deaths, and of these, cardiovascular diseases are responsible for 58%.

Under the SeyPen programme, adapted from WHO’s Package of Essential Noncommunicable (PEN) Disease Interventions for Primary Health Care, the government is implementing screening and treatment measures in all 15 health facilities in the country. Each facility has a dedicated team of trained health professionals who screen and refer patients who are obese or are at risk of diabetes and high blood pressure to the required specialist.  

“People can do a lot to prevent and commit to a healthy lifestyle, so people must take responsibility for their health,” says Jourdanne Letourdie, a nursing officer at Anse Aux Pins clinic, located in the east region of Mahe, Seychelles’ main island. “Chronic diseases are costing the country a lot of money. If we can work together, it doesn’t cost us so much.”

In 2023 WHO convened southern African countries with high rates of obesity in Johannesburg, South Africa, to spearhead national obesity response acceleration roadmaps. Following this meeting, Peggy Vidot, Minister of Health in Seychelles, conducted high-level advocacy for obesity to be tackled as a national problem requiring coordination at the highest level. As a result, a multisectoral steering committee was formed, chaired by President of Seychelles, Wavel Ramkalawan. In October of that year, he launched the ‘Stop Obesity’ campaign and multisectoral obesity reduction plan. Ministries, departments and agencies are implementing various initiatives under the plan.

The ‘Eat for your health’ campaign was launched in last quarter of 2023 by the Nutrition Unit of the country’s Health Care Agency. The unit produced a series of short health promotion videos focusing on nutritional content and health benefits of various foods, as well as simple meal ideas using healthy and affordable ingredients. The videos were broadcasted on the main television channel, Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation.

The Workplace Wellbeing Programme has successfully targeted more than 20 workplaces from both the public and private sectors since its initiation. The programme educates employees on how to exercise, monitor and control their diets, and how to balance work and lifestyle. It also conducts regular screening of common risk factors for chronic diseases, such as blood pressure, body mass index and blood glucose.

The Ministry of Education has also rolled out new school programmes to teach children the importance of physical activity and proper nutrition. Regular sports events and fitness competitions are now part of the school calendar, encouraging student participation and family involvement. All state schools provide free breakfast and lunch to students, promoting healthy eating from an early age. To further support this, unhealthy snacks and sugary drinks are banned in school tuck shops, in line with the 2008 National School Nutrition Policy and the 2018 tuck shop guidelines. Sporting facilities, playgrounds and improved pedestrian walkways have also paved the way for more access to physical activity.

The Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Family organizes open-air fitness sessions and nutrition education workshops to engage the public. These initiatives aim to promote collective ownership of the fight against obesity.

“We need stakeholders in the public and private sector, including non-governmental organizations and community groups, to work together with the Ministry of Health in a collaborative effort to address obesity and overweight at national level,” says Stephanie Desnousse, principal nutritionist at the Ministry of Health. “Obesity is not only a problem for the Ministry of Health, but also a national concern.”