Nutrition activists in Uganda are urging for a greater focus on the nutritional needs of adolescents and young people, warning that the country's traditional emphasis on malnutrition among children under five is leaving older children with less attention. This call was made during a recent three-day Sports for Health tournament in Kampala, where young people gathered for sporting activities and discussions on nutrition, hygiene, sanitation, and climate change. The event aimed to bring together young people and stakeholders to address malnutrition across different age groups.
According to Sissy Kam, Technical Advisor for Health at Plan International, adolescence is a critical stage of physical development when young people establish eating and lifestyle habits that can influence their health later in life. Kam stressed that nutrition interventions should extend beyond early childhood to ensure adolescents receive adequate and appropriate nutrition. She emphasized that a healthy diet must be complemented by regular physical activity, stating that "when you want to have a young person who is actually healthy, you are going to look at their diet and also them being active."
Historically, Uganda's nutrition programs have placed significant emphasis on children aged five and below, while adolescents and other young people have received comparatively less attention. Kam pointed to growing concerns about overweight and obesity among school-going children, citing UNICEF figures indicating that 12 percent of children aged five to 19 are overweight or obese. She attributed this problem partly to dietary patterns and physical inactivity, noting that families sometimes turn to junk food and sugary drinks due to convenience.
Benard Ssembatya, Country Director of Scaling Up Food Security and Nutrition Youth Adolescents and Children (SANFOYAC), said the Sports for Health program uses sport as an entry point for promoting healthy lifestyles among young people. The program combines sporting activities with discussions on nutrition, hygiene, sanitation, and climate change. Ssembatya expressed happiness about the event, stating that it promotes healthy lifestyles among young people in their communities and at all levels.
Climate change and food insecurity also have implications for nutrition, particularly among households vulnerable to flooding and other climate-related shocks. Ssembatya suggested that promoting climate-resilient food production could help vulnerable households supplement their food supplies through small-scale gardens at homes, in communities, and at schools. He also urged parents to pay greater attention to what their children eat and consider healthier alternatives.
The initiative aims to address gaps in nutrition data on adolescents and young people, as nutrition statistics have traditionally focused heavily on children under five. Ssembatya stated that the program is collecting information from people above the age of five to better understand their nutritional needs and experiences. So far, seven schools have participated in the initiative, which seeks to bring together young people and stakeholders to address malnutrition across different age groups.
The program is part of a broader effort to ensure that nutrition interventions address not only undernutrition but also emerging challenges such as overweight, obesity, and unhealthy diets among Uganda's growing adolescent population. The event served as a pre-event ahead of a national youth dialogue, using sport as a platform to engage young people in discussions about nutrition and health. Organizers hope that this initiative will contribute to building a healthier generation.
Key points
- Nutrition activists in Uganda are calling for greater attention to the nutritional needs of adolescents and young people.
- Uganda's traditional focus on malnutrition among children under five is leaving older children with less attention.
- The Sports for Health program aims to promote healthy lifestyles among young people through sporting activities and discussions on nutrition, hygiene, sanitation, and climate change.
