A new study published in Frontiers in Public Health, sheds light on this important gap. Conducted among 136 primary school teachers from eight under-resourced schools in Gqeberha, South Africa, the study provides the first detailed DXA-derived body composition data from the Eastern Cape province. While considerable attention is given to improving the health and wellbeing of schoolchildren, the health of the teachers who support them every day often receives far less attention.

Using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), the researchers assessed body fat, bone health and lean mass, revealing a concerning pattern of overlapping health risks among an apparently healthy workforce. The findings were striking: approximately 92% of teachers had elevated fat-mass risk, 30% had bone-mass risk and 16% had lean-mass risk. Importantly, these risks frequently occurred together, with 6% of teachers presenting all three simultaneously. More than half (53%) also met the criteria for metabolic syndrome, a cluster of risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

These findings highlight the importance of looking beyond body weight alone when assessing health and recognising the interconnected nature of obesity, bone health, muscle health and metabolic risk. Although the study was conducted in a small group of teachers and its findings cannot be generalised to all South African educators, it provides important evidence from a population and region that have received limited research attention. The implications extend beyond identifying health risks. We emphasise the need for accessible screening, early prevention and practical, context-appropriate workplace health programmes. Importantly, promoting teacher health does not necessarily require expensive technologies. Affordable screening approaches, opportunities for physical activity, and stronger pathways to preventive healthcare could make a meaningful difference, particularly in resource-constrained school environments. The research forms part of the KaziBantu project: ‘Healthy Schools for Healthy Communities’ and was conducted under the auspices of the UNESCO Chair on ‘Physical Activity and Health in Educational Settings’. The study contributes to UNESCO’s Fit for Life programme by providing evidence to support more inclusive, data-driven approaches to health promotion in school settings, recognising teacher wellbeing as an essential component of healthier school communities.

Ultimately, the study reinforces an important message: healthy schools depend not only on healthy learners, but also on healthy teachers. Supporting those who educate the next generation is an essential investment in the health and future of entire school communities.

Read the full open-access publication:

Joubert, N., Adams, L., Seelig, H., Gardiner, E.C., van de Venter, R., Degen, J., Dolley, D., Müller, I., Nqweniso, S., Probst-Hensch, N., Steinmann, P., Pühse, U., du Randt, R., Gerber, M., Utzinger, J., and Walter, C. (2026). Bone health, obesity, and multimorbidity risk among teachers in under-resourced South African public primary schools: results from a cross-sectional DXA study. Front. Public Health 14:1794604. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1794604