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Overweight and obesity among women in a predominantly rural district of Ghana
Author(s) -
Marquis Grace S,
Colecraft Esi K,
Bannerman Boat,
ThompsonColón Theresa
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.30.1_supplement.667.9
Subject(s) - underweight , overweight , overnutrition , obesity , medicine , malnutrition , body mass index , double burden , demography , micronutrient , rural area , cross sectional study , gerontology , environmental health , endocrinology , pathology , sociology
The double burden of malnutrition is evident among women of reproductive age (WRA) in Ghana where micronutrient deficiencies commonly occur concurrent with an increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity (OW/OB). However, overnutrition among Ghanaian women has been rarely characterized. We assessed sociodemographic determinants of OW/OB among women in a predominantly rural district of Ghana. Cross‐sectional data were collected from WRA (n=1095) who lived in the Upper Manya Krobo District of the Eastern Region and who participated in the Nutrition Links Infant Household baseline survey between November 2013 and May 2014. The women were interviewed about their personal and household characteristics and weight and height measurements were taken. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated and a dichotomous variable was used to represent non‐OW/OB (BMI<25 kg/m 2 ) and OW/OB (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m 2 ). The mean age of the women was 27.4 ± 7.6 y. Over one‐quarter of them were either overweight (21%) or obese (6.4%); the prevalence of underweight (7.2%) was similar to that of obesity. OW/OB was significantly associated with being 30 y or older, married, and having more household assets (at least 4 out of 12 items) ( p <0.05). However, those women who owned their home were less likely to be OW/OB ( p <0.05). Combined, the prevalence of overweight and obesity was almost four‐fold higher than that of underweight among these predominantly rural women. Concurrent efforts to address both over‐ and undernutrition are needed to enhance women's health and well‐being in this population. Support or Funding Information Funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Development (DFATD) of the Government of Canada