Abstract:
Introduction: Overweight and obesity, which can be described as the accumulation of excessive body fat has become a major public health problem. Overweight and obese individuals also attract a lot of stigma which results in discrimination. This study was designed to determine perceptions and stigmatization in relation to overweight and obesity among women of reproductive age in the Ghanaian setting.
Method: The study employed a descriptive cross sectional study design and used a mixed methods approach; that is quantitative and qualitative method. Questionnaires and in-depth interviews were used for data collection. Descriptive statistics including frequencies were used to describe the socio-demographic characteristics. Pearson Chi-square and fishers’ exact test for categorical variables was done to test for association between perceived bodyweight description (outcome variable) and socio-demographic characteristics.Multiple ordered logistic regression model was further done to test for the strength of association between perceived body weight and significant socio-demographic characteristics. In-depth interviews were used to explore individual perceptions and live experiences of stigma among obese and normal weight research participants. All interviews were audio taped, transcribed and used to identify relevant themes.
Results: Two hundred and sixty-six respondents were included in quantitative analysis; 10 participants were included in the in-depth interviews. Majority (56.4%) of the respondents from the survey were obese. Respondents reported misperceptions about their body; 56.5% obese persons classified themselves to be overweight while 28.6% and 14.3% of respondents who perceived themselves to have normal weight were overweight and obese respectively. From the in-depth interview, perceived causes of obesity were excessive eating and physical inactivity. Obese and overweight persons felt they were blamed for their weight status. Derogatory name callings, perceived barriers to use of public space and denial of jobs were stigmatizing attitudes experienced by obese and overweight persons.
Conclusion: Obese and overweight persons feels stigmatized because they are blamed for their weight status. They experience a range of stigmatizing behaviour from friends, family neighbours and the public. There is a need to protect overweight and obese persons from stigmatizing and discriminatory attitudes by others.
