Summary
In Kenya, weight-loss treatments are becoming more popular as people's views on body image change. More Kenyans are now seeking medical help to lose weight for health and beauty reasons. This shift is partly driven by social and online pressures and the changing perception of obesity from wealth to health.
Key Facts
- Weight-loss surgeries and drugs are in higher demand in Kenya as societal attitudes are changing.
- Dr. Lyudmila Shchukina's weight-loss clinic in Nairobi is seeing an increase in patients.
- In the past, being overweight was seen as a sign of success, but now it is more related to health concerns.
- Social media plays a significant role, with people facing pressure to lose weight.
- More than half of women and a quarter of men in urban Kenya were overweight or obese, as per a 2022 survey.
- Some patients seek weight-loss treatments to improve personal health issues like diabetes and high blood pressure.
- The appearance-driven motivation is also growing due to changing beauty standards and celebrity influence.
- Drugs like Ozempic are used for weight management, affecting hunger and digestion.
