Every year, in August, our country marks Women’s Month. We also pay tribute to the more than 20,000 women who marched to the Union Buildings on 9 August 1956 in protest against the extension of Pass Laws to women. A system meant to control women even further and reduce women to passive beings, at the mercy of men. This day also serves to remind us that the fight for women’s equality and empowerment must reach every corner of society, especially when it comes to health. In South Africa, where nearly 68% of women are overweight or obese (1), access to evidence-based nutritional education offers not only a path to personal wellbeing, but a powerful step toward equity and empowerment.
At the heart of this issue lies a powerful solution: nutritional literacy. When women understand the science behind food, they are equipped to challenge misinformation, reject harmful food systems, and reclaim their health with confidence. This belief lies at the core of The Noakes Foundation and its community arm, Eat Better South Africa (EBSA), organisations dedicated to evidence-based interventions that empower individuals and communities through accessible, practical nutrition knowledge.
In a country where poor diets are driving the rise of diabetes, hypertension, and obesity, improving nutritional literacy, especially among women, represents one of the most urgent and impactful ways to create lasting change.
Why Nutritional Literacy Matters in South Africa
South African women face a complex set of health challenges influenced by structural inequalities, targeted marketing, food insecurity, and cultural misconceptions around diet. Despite economic and social diversity, rates of non-communicable diseases remain consistently high among women across all backgrounds. Research shows that poor dietary knowledge is a key contributing factor. A 2022 study found that over half of young, urban women in South Africa had inadequate nutrition understanding, regardless of income level (2).
This knowledge gap is exacerbated by the widespread availability of ultra-processed foods and the aggressive marketing of sugar-laden, low-nutrient products, especially in low-income communities. The consequences are devastating: South African women are increasingly at risk of developing preventable conditions like type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome, all of which are closely tied to diet.
The Eat Better South Africa program was created in direct response to these realities. Our philosophy is simple but powerful: everyone deserves access to the science of nutrition, regardless of income, background, or education level. Our work is grounded in the belief that when women understand how food affects their bodies, they become agents of change, not just for themselves, but for their families, their communities, and future generations.
Debunking Health Myths: Cutting Through the Noise
In an era dominated by social media, misinformation about women’s health, especially nutrition and weight, spreads faster than ever. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube are filled with influencers, wellness coaches, and unverified health personalities promoting “miracle” diets, detox teas, extreme fasting, and expensive supplements. While the images and messages are often glossy and aspirational, they can be deeply harmful, fueling unrealistic body expectations and encouraging unsustainable quick-fix solutions.
These fads are not limited to high-income groups. In fact, they cut across socioeconomic boundaries, shaping beliefs about health, weight, and worth in every corner of society. In South Africa, this has real-world consequences. Many women in both urban and rural communities are exposed to a constant stream of contradictory nutrition advice, leading to confusion, guilt, and in some cases, disordered eating.
The myths persist because they tap into long-held social stigmas and cultural narratives. In many communities, thinness is still tied to beauty and success, while being overweight is often unfairly associated with laziness or lack of control. At the same time, some cultural beliefs celebrate larger body sizes as signs of wealth or fertility, creating a confusing landscape of expectations. The result is a tangled mix of shame, pride, judgment, and misinformation that can make it hard for women to know what’s true or best for their bodies.
It’s time to move away from the harmful cycle of diet culture and toward a model of nutritional literacy, one that respects culture, empowers choice, and puts science, not social media,at the centre of women’s health.
From Misinformation to Empowerment
Empowerment through nutritional literacy isn’t about imposing rigid rules; it’s about liberating women from confusion, guilt, and dependence on expensive health fads. In EBSA-led groups, women learn to read food labels, decode marketing tactics, and prepare affordable, nourishing meals for their families. They gain confidence in shopping for real food, identifying hidden sugars, and cooking with intention. They also learn to challenge the norms that have kept them trapped in cycles of poor health and disempowerment.
One of the most remarkable aspects of the EBSA model is that it meets women where they are, using accessible language, community-based support, and peer learning to create safe, judgment-free spaces. Over time, participants not only experience weight loss and improved energy but also rediscover a sense of dignity and agency over their health choices.
Conclusion
Nutritional literacy is not a side issue; it is a frontline solution in the struggle for women’s empowerment. By replacing myths with evidence, confusion with confidence, and shame with strength, we create space for real transformation.
This Women’s Day, let’s commit to building a future where every woman has access to the knowledge she needs to eat better, live better, and lead better. Let’s accelerate action, not with more diets, but with more truth, more access, and more dignity.
What’s one nutrition myth you believed, and what helped you unlearn it? Share your story and help another woman take the first step toward empowered eating.
References
- https://data.worldobesity.org/publications/?cat=23
- https://doi.org/10.1080/16070658.2022.2076374
