Dietary intake and the dynamics of stress, hypertension and obesity in a peri-urban community in Accra
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Date
2016-03
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Publisher
Ghana Medical Journal
Abstract
Objectives: This study intends to investigate the association between dietary intake, stress and prevalence of chronic
diseases.
Design and Setting: The study was a cross-sectional design conducted in two poor peri-urban communities in Accra.
Participants and outcome measures: A total of 90 households each with a male and female between the ages of 18
and 45 years were sampled, and their socio-demographic status, anthropometric measurement and fasting blood sugar
were assessed. Blood pressure was measured and chronic stress/ anxiety was determined using the trait and state
inventory (T-stai) questionnaire. Three days repeated 24-hour dietary recall was also done. Analysis of variance and
linear regression analysis were used in data analysis.
Results: About 28% of the subjects were hypertensive and 55.5% had high chronic stress. Hypertension was higher
in males (32.2%) than females (24.4%) (p=.023) whiles stress was higher in females (60.9%) than males (50.0%)
(p=.017). Hypertensive subjects recorded higher stress (51.02%) and hypertension was more prevalent in subjects
with high stress (32.89%) especially in females (57.14%, p=.036). Hypertension increased with mean age whiles
stress decreased with mean age. Hypertensive subjects recorded a significantly higher BMI and sodium intake
whiles high stress individuals recorded a lower animal protein but a higher cereal protein intake (p<.05). Chronic
stress was associated with intake of low animal protein and high cereal protein. Increased dietary diversity score was
associated with decreased obesity prevalence (p<.05).
Conclusion: Hypertension, chronic stress, and obesity were linked, and affected by dietary sodium, animal protein,
and dietary diversity of subjects respectively.
Description
Journal Article on dietary intake and the dynamics of stress, hypertension and obesity
Keywords
Stress, hypertension, obesity, dietary intake