Rabat – Obesity is becoming a growing health issue in Morocco, with more adults impacted every year.
The latest World Obesity Atlas report, released on March 4 for World Obesity Day, warns that 59% of Moroccan adults already have a body mass index (BMI) above 25 kilograms per square meters, a threshold linked to overweight and obesity.
Health risks continue to rise alongside these numbers. In 2021, 16,524 premature deaths in Morocco resulted from diseases associated with high BMI, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, and some cancers.
Obesity-led chronic diseases led to the loss of 366,828 years of healthy life, an indication of the rising burden on public health.
Estimates for 2030 paint an even grimmer picture. By then, 24% of Moroccan adults could fall into the obese category, bringing the number of individuals with excess weight to 16.86 million.
Women appear particularly vulnerable, with 9.94 million expected to be affected, compared to 6.91 million men.
Despite the enormity of the problem, Morocco has yet to introduce clear national guidelines to address obesity or promote physical activity. Sedentary lifestyles prevail, with 20% to 30% of adults reporting to have insufficient movement in their lifestyles.
Experts urge immediate action as obesity typically originates from deeper socioeconomic concerns, such as dietary habits, urbanization, and limited access to sports amenities.
Obesity concerns have nothing to do with body image or fat shaming and everything to do with health. Obesity increases the risk of serious conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers, affecting both quality of life and life expectancy.
Social barriers within conservative Moroccan society could also be a contributing factor, especially when it comes to women. Across the country, there is a lack of dedicated spaces where women can feel comfortable exercising in public, which causes significant barriers to leading active lifestyles.
Soaring healthcare costs, social stigma, and the difficulty of accessing treatment make it harder for individuals to manage their weight. Without stronger policies and greater awareness, the country risks seeing the problem intensify in the years ahead.
