Africa Health Knowledge Management Portal
Informing Health Decisions and Actions
Presidential Initiative On Healthy Eating & Healthy Lifestyle
Health Risk Environment
Food and Nutrition
Description
In Uganda, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are a public health problem. Although once considered the diseases of the affluent, it is noticeable that NCDs affect even those with low social economic status. The major shift in individuals�� health behaviours and lifestyles especially due to the rapid urbanisation, of once rural communities, has escalated the disease burden. In the current transition, a more convenient lifestyle characterised by use of motorised transport and consumption of fast foods has taken over the past behaviours which could encourage physical activity and consumption of healthy foods. Although the current mortality due to the four major NCDs (cardiovascular diseases