DAR ES SALAAM, Sept. 27 -- FOR some Tanzanians struggling with excess weight, the journey towards a slimmer body no longer begins with a pair of running shoes.

Increasingly, it starts with a bottle of supplements, a packet of weight-loss pills or a product advertised online with promises of quick results.

The attraction is easy to understand. Exercise requires time, discipline and consistency, while weight-loss products are often marketed as a convenient solution for people eager to see changes without spending long hours at the gym or on the running track.

For Ms Fatuma Juma of Dar es Salaam, a demanding work schedule made regular exercise difficult.

“With the nature of my work, exercising is very difficult because my schedule ...