Risk Factors for Obesity Among Adolescents in Senior High Schools in the Tema Metropolis

Abstract

Introduction: Obesity in adolescents has reached alarming levels and its prevalence is continuing to rise to the extent that WHO has labeled it as an epidemic. Obesity in adolescence is of importance because the adolescents are known to carry the obesity into adulthood and develop Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in their early years of adulthood. Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors for obesity among adolescents in senior high schools in the Tema Metropolis. Methods: A cross-sectional school based study was conducted on 423 adolescents in Methodist Day SHS and Datus SHS in the Tema Metroplolis. A multistage stratified random sampling was used to select the participants for the study. The students were asked to complete questionnaires that included risk factors of obesity such as dietary habits, physical inactivity, familial or genetic factors and socioeconomic status. Their weight and height were measured and used to compute their BMI. They were then categorized as obese, overweight, normal weight or underweight based on their BMI for age taking into account their sex using the CDC BMI for age growth chart. Results: Out of the 423 participants aged between 13 – 19 years, 159(37.6%) were males and 264(62.4%) were females. The overall prevalence of obesity was 15.4%. The prevalence of obesity in males and females was 6.3 % and 20.8% respectively. Seventy (16.5 %) were overweight while 3(0.7%) were underweight. The risk factors that showed significant association with obesity after adjusting for other variables were sex (AOR= 21.8, p=0.000), socioeconomic status (AOR=2.56, p=0.036), snacks consumption per week (AOR=1.88, p=0.046), not having a fat father (AOR=0.06, p=0.000), not having a fat mother (AOR=0.21, p=0.000), not having a fat University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh v relative (AOR=0.29, p=0.007 ), not being fat before age 10years (AOR=0.17, p=0.001) and duration of watching TV of > 4hours (AOR= 2.31, p=0.006) Conclusion: Sex was the most significant risk factor associated with obesity, with females being 21.8 times more likely to be obese compared to males. There is the need for increased awareness for obesity. Health education programs should be conducted for obese children but should target overweight children too. These health education programs must include diet, exercise and family based behavior approach. Further research is needed on obesity. Key words: Obesity, adolescents, senior high schools, Tema metropolis