Obesity is a health condition where a person has high levels of cholesterol, sugar or salt and insufficient nutrients. Poor dieting regimes, genetics or lack of physical exercises are major causes of the condition.

In Africa, obesity has been on the rise in recent years due to a rapidly growing urban population across the continent. The continent accounts for nearly 25 percent of the global population of 41 million children under five years who are obese.

Obesity is associated with diseases such as Type 2 diabetes, stroke, heart diseases, hypertension and several types of cancer.

Below are 12 African countries with the highest rates of obese people.

Sources; The Heart And Stroke Foundation South Africa, News24, PRI, SABC, Business Daily, Daily News, Huntington News, CAIROSCENE, Middle East Eye, Thomson Reuters Foundation, Seychelles News Agency, Times Of Swaziland, afrol News, Tunisia Live, Fair Observer, panapress, The New Times