Overweight and obesity is caused by the accumulation of body fat. This has adverse effect on health. Overweight and obesity is measured by Body mass index (BMI). It is the measure of a person’s weight in relation to the height. A BMI between 25 kg/m² and 30 kg/m² is considered the pre-obese stage overweight. Those with BMI over 30 kg/m² is considered to be obese. Many health problems are associated with obesity such as certain types of cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and osteoarthritis. There are a number if factors that lead to obesity. But the most common factors are absence of or very low physical activities, excessive intake of calories, psychiatric reasons, genetic susceptibility and medical reasons.

Though a preventable health problem, the prevalence of the problem in adults and in children amongst all sections of the populations in the developed countries and the more affluent in the developing countries are truly alarming. It has become one of the most serious public health issues in the 21^st century. There are a number of ways in which this problem is attempted to be addressed. This includes dieting, physical exercises, medication, dietary supplements, appetite suppressants, anti-obesity drugs, and surgery.

Hoodia originated from the Kalahari Desert of South Africa. It has been reported that the local San Bushmen consumed this when they travel for day’s together hunting in the desert and without food. This acts as a appetite suppressant. This was reported by media and soon enough hoodia found its way into the market in various forms as Hoodia powder, Hoodia capsules, liquid Hoodia gordonii, Hoodia extracts, and Hoodia shake.

The vast traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples is a store house of knowledge on medicinal plants. This has been a subject of intense research. Many of them are finding its way into modern application as products for various uses. It is now well recognized that all the traditional communities have a knowledge that is an ecological map of biodiversity of their habitat. The modern world has been making painstaking expeditions to extract this knowledge which often includes enticement and threats ending in biopiracy to a mutually beneficial partnership. Africa is richly endowed with a variety of ecologically diverse regions with rich biodiversity about which there are knowledge accumulated through centuries embedded in the traditions of the local native inhabitants. This knowledge also encompasses knowledge of medicinal plants which now finds its way into modern products to cater for health needs. The cosmeceutical, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries have been eager to dig deep into this treasure house of knowledge, and to bring them out as remedies and treatments for various ailments and health conditions. This Dark Continent has now contributed one more vital piece of knowledge in the form of Hoodia.