Epidemiology of body mass index in Ghana: evidence from WHO Study on global ageing and adult health, Wave 2:

John  Tetteh; Anita O  Yawson; Richard  Biritwum; George  Mensah; Nadia  Minicuci; Nirmala  Naidoo; Somnath  Chatterji; Paul  Kowal; Daniel  DeGraft-Amoah; Alfred E  Yawson

doi:10.46829/hsijournal.2022.6.3.1.294-302

John Tetteh Department of Community Health, University of Ghana Medical School, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
Anita O Yawson Department of Anaesthesia, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana
Richard Biritwum Department of Community Health, University of Ghana Medical School, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
George Mensah Department of Community Health, University of Ghana Medical School, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
Nadia Minicuci National Research Council, Neuroscience Institute, Padova, Italy
Nirmala Naidoo World Health Organization Division of Data, Analytics and Delivery for Impact, Geneva, Switzerland
Somnath Chatterji World Health Organization Division of Data, Analytics and Delivery for Impact, Geneva, Switzerland
Paul Kowal World Health Organization Division of Data, Analytics and Delivery for Impact, Geneva, Switzerland; University of Newcastle Research Centre for Generational Health and Ageing, Newcastle, Australia
Daniel DeGraft-Amoah Department of Community Health, University of Ghana Medical School, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
Alfred E Yawson Department of Community Health, University of Ghana Medical School, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana

DOI: https://doi.org/10.46829/hsijournal.2022.6.3.1.294-302

Keywords: Prevalence, Body Mass Index, obesity, Ghana

Abstract

Background: The increased prevalence of overweight and obesity are directly related to economic development, eating habits and changes in physical activity levels.
Objective: This study aimed to examine population-level body mass index (BMI) and associated factors.
Methods: Data from World Health Organization Study on global AGEing and adult health Ghana Wave 2 conducted in 2015 among adults 18 years and older was used for the analysis. Body mass index was used as the main outcome measure. Inferential statistics involving ordered logistic regression models were carried out to assess risk predictors of obesity.
Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity BMI were 24.7% and 12.9% respectively. The prevalence of obesity varied across the regions, with relatively higher rates in southern regions (highest in the Greater Accra region, 28.3%) and was higher in women than men (20.4% versus 3.9%). Significant predictors [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI)] of obesity included female sex (aOR = 2.94, 95% CI = 2.25 – 3.86), adults aged 50 – 59 years (aOR = 3.95, 95% CI = 2.68 – 5.83), dwellers in the capital region, Greater Accra (aOR = 3.58, 95% CI = 2.02 – 6.36) and ≥ 5 fruit intake [3.12 (1.74 – 5.63)].
Conclusion: The prevalence of obesity among adult Ghanaians (≥ 18 years) has increased over two-fold in a decade based on analysis using similar methods and survey data. Increasing age and place of residence are significantly associated with high BMI. Our findings support the implementation of Ghana's 2012 national policy for the prevention and control of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The policy aims to change the trajectory of factors that contribute to NCD and fulfil WHO's NCD Target 7 for halting the growth in obesity and diabetes by 2025.