{"id":3800,"date":"2025-09-03T14:16:53","date_gmt":"2025-09-03T14:16:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thenewsroomhub.co.ke\/?p=3800"},"modified":"2025-09-03T14:16:53","modified_gmt":"2025-09-03T14:16:53","slug":"from-obesity-to-anxiety-pediatricians-emerge-as-key-guides-for-africas-youth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thenewsroomhub.co.ke\/index.php\/2025\/09\/03\/from-obesity-to-anxiety-pediatricians-emerge-as-key-guides-for-africas-youth\/","title":{"rendered":"From Obesity to Anxiety: Pediatricians Emerge as Key Guides for Africa’s Youth"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lagos, Nigeria, September 2, 2025: As concerns for African pediatric physical and mental health continue to rise<\/a>, St. George\u2019s University (SGU) School of Medicine in Grenada, West Indies, highlights the meaningful and impactful nature of pediatrics careers. From managing physical and emotional well-being to supporting families through vulnerable moments, pediatricians play a vital role in guiding the next generation of Africans toward a healthier future.<\/p>\n

Findings from national health studies focusing on African children and youth indicate a consistent upward trend in overweight and obesity rates. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations<\/a>, obesity among children under five years of age in Africa was 4.9% in 2022.<\/p>\n

This number is projected to increase significantly in the coming years. The World Obesity Atlas<\/a> estimates that the prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents in the region is predicted to rise rapidly from 5% to 14% by 2035. According to a 2022 report by UNICEF<\/a>, roughly one in seven children in Sub-Saharan Africa experience significant psychological hardship, and approximately 37 million adolescents on the continent are living with a diagnosable mental health condition; common issues include anxiety, depression, learning disabilities, eating disorders, and some personality disorders.<\/p>\n

Dr. Ahmed Hussein<\/a>, an SGU graduate from the Doctor of Medicine degree program in 2022, advises that regular pediatric checkups are the single most important preventive measure.<\/p>\n

\u201cEach age group has its own anticipatory guidance for a healthy life and specific screening tools for diseases,\u201d he said. \u201cThese routine visits allow pediatricians to provide tailored advice on nutrition, development, and emotional wellbeing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPediatrics is a deeply rewarding field because it\u2019s not just about treating young patients, it\u2019s about supporting entire families through some of their most vulnerable moments,\u201d said Dr. Hussein. \u201cYou become a trusted guide, helping parents navigate uncertainty and empowering them to nurture their child\u2019s health beyond the clinic. It\u2019s a role that requires empathy, resilience, and a genuine passion for making a long-term impact.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Reflecting on his journey into pediatrics, Dr. Hussein describes it as a field full of daily joy and renewal.<\/p>\n

\u201cEach patient encounter is like meeting a new friend for playtime,\u201d he shares. \u201cWe laugh, play, and joke during our time together while tackling the main reason for their visit. It\u2019s a constant regeneration of energy during the day.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Addressing the post-pandemic surge in screen addiction, anxiety, and delayed social development in children, Dr. Hussein urges families to create emotionally connected environments.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoutines that prioritize outdoor play, face-to-face interaction, and emotional openness,\u201d he notes, are key to cultivating resilience in children navigating today\u2019s fast-evolving world.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

For more information on the programs and tracks available through SGU School of Medicine, visit SGU\u2019s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Lagos, Nigeria, September 2, 2025: As concerns for African pediatric physical and mental health continue to rise, St. George\u2019s University…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3801,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3800","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/thenewsroomhub.co.ke\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/St.-Georges-University-Students_Pediatrics.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thenewsroomhub.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3800","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thenewsroomhub.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thenewsroomhub.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thenewsroomhub.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thenewsroomhub.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3800"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/thenewsroomhub.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3800\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3802,"href":"https:\/\/thenewsroomhub.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3800\/revisions\/3802"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thenewsroomhub.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3801"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thenewsroomhub.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3800"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thenewsroomhub.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3800"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thenewsroomhub.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3800"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}