Nutrients, Vol. 18, Pages 61: Obesity in Tanzanian Youth (15–35 Years): From Nutrition Transition to Policy Action—A Scoping Review
Nutrients doi: 10.3390/nu18010061
Authors:
Angeliki Sofroniou
Sara Basilico
Maria Vittoria Conti
Haikael David Martin
Hellas Cena
Background: Tanzania is undergoing a rapid nutrition and epidemiological transition that has shifted dietary patterns and lifestyles toward more Westernised models, contributing to an increase in diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including obesity. Youth aged 15–35 years are particularly vulnerable to these shifts. Objectives: The objective of this scoping review was to map the available evidence on youth obesity in Tanzania, focusing on (1) data gaps in epidemiological reporting; (2) the ongoing nutrition transition; and (3) existing food system and health-related policies targeting youth. Methods: A targeted search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and the grey literature. The PCC (Population/Concept/Context) framework guided the study selection, focusing on youth and general young adults aged 15–35 years in Tanzania. Eligible studies published between 2000 and June 2025 were included. Results: The search yielded 247 peer-reviewed articles, of which 35 met the inclusion criteria. The findings reveal substantial gaps in epidemiological reporting, particularly limited regional data and inconsistent age disaggregation, which often obscures youth-specific patterns. Evidence on nutrition and lifestyle transitions is limited and fragmented, while available policies addressing obesity and related risk factors are broad in scope and rarely tailored to the youth population. Conclusions: This review demonstrates that evidence on obesity among Tanzanian youth is scarce, unevenly reported, and insufficiently specific to this age group. Clear gaps exist in epidemiological surveillance, research on nutrition transition, and youth-focused policy design. Strengthening age-specific monitoring systems, generating context-specific evidence, and developing targeted, measurable, and actionable strategies for youth could enhance Tanzania’s efforts to curb the rising burden of obesity and related NCDs.
Background: Tanzania is undergoing a rapid nutrition and epidemiological transition that has shifted dietary patterns and lifestyles toward more Westernised models, contributing to an increase in diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including obesity. Youth aged 15–35 years are particularly vulnerable to these shifts. Objectives: The objective of this scoping review was to map the available evidence on youth obesity in Tanzania, focusing on (1) data gaps in epidemiological reporting; (2) the ongoing nutrition transition; and (3) existing food system and health-related policies targeting youth. Methods: A targeted search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and the grey literature. The PCC (Population/Concept/Context) framework guided the study selection, focusing on youth and general young adults aged 15–35 years in Tanzania. Eligible studies published between 2000 and June 2025 were included. Results: The search yielded 247 peer-reviewed articles, of which 35 met the inclusion criteria. The findings reveal substantial gaps in epidemiological reporting, particularly limited regional data and inconsistent age disaggregation, which often obscures youth-specific patterns. Evidence on nutrition and lifestyle transitions is limited and fragmented, while available policies addressing obesity and related risk factors are broad in scope and rarely tailored to the youth population. Conclusions: This review demonstrates that evidence on obesity among Tanzanian youth is scarce, unevenly reported, and insufficiently specific to this age group. Clear gaps exist in epidemiological surveillance, research on nutrition transition, and youth-focused policy design. Strengthening age-specific monitoring systems, generating context-specific evidence, and developing targeted, measurable, and actionable strategies for youth could enhance Tanzania’s efforts to curb the rising burden of obesity and related NCDs. Read More