High cholesterol and insulin resistance are rising among young South Africans – what that means for public health

The modernisation of small towns, while positive economically, brings hidden health costs.

By: Themba Titus Sigudu, University of the Witwatersrand, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: January 13, 2026

Words: 1,213

Last Updated: 2 months, 1 week ago

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By Themba Titus Sigudu, University of the Witwatersrand

In a small mining town in South Africa’s Limpopo province, young people are showing worrying signs of diseases that were once thought to affect only older adults.

These include type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity and insulin resistance. This is not unique to Limpopo or South Africa. It reflects a global trend, where young adults in many low- and middle-income countries are increasingly …

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