Determinants Of Overweight And Obesity Among The Youth In Ghana

Abstract

Overweight and obesity, and associated conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, are global health issues that have an enormous financial burden on individuals and families at large. The prevalence of obesity and overweight is growing at an alarming rate in Ghana. The rising prevalence of these conditions affects the quality of life, increases mortality, and reduces productivity in the country. Unhealthy lifestyle behaviours, such as poor dietary habits and sedentary activities, are some of the factors that influence overweight and obesity. This study examined the socio-demographic factors associated with obesity and overweight among Ghanaian youth and how these factors could be addressed. The study analysed data on 12856 youth aged 15–34 years who were interviewed in the seventh round of the Ghana Living Standard Survey. Obesity and overweight were measured using body mass index as the primary indicator. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariate techniques were employed in analysing the data. The overall prevalence of overweight and obesity was 16.1% and 9.4%, respectively. Obesity and overweight were more common among females (22.9% and 15.9%) compared to males (17.0% and 10.1%). Also, older, educated, rich, and urban-dwelling youth were found to be at a higher risk of being overweight or obese. At the multivariate level, females were 2.56 (p = 0.000) times more likely to be obese as compared to males, while youth in the richest wealth quintile were 1.76 (p = 0.000) more likely to be obese as compared to youth in the poorest wealth quintile. Policymakers should help increase educational campaigns on the causes and health consequences of obesity and overweight among youth and the general population to create the needed awareness about these conditions. This can help the youth adopt healthy lifestyles such as exercising and eating healthy foods to prevent overweight and obesity.