Perceived Body Weight and Actual Body Mass Index (BMI) among Urban Poor Communities in Accra, Ghana
Date
2013-07
Authors
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Publisher
University of Ghana
Abstract
Body weight (especially overweight and obesity) are of global concern because of their
health implications. Notwithstanding the health implications, the prevalence rates continue to
increase in both developed and Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs). The rising
prevalence of overweight/obesity is attributed to changing behavioural practices such as
reduced physical activity and poor dietary behaviours. Being underweight is associated with
high levels of malnutrition, starvation and poverty. Weight misperception can also result in
large numbers of individuals with weight problems failing to understand the need for weight
control. The aim of the study was to examine the association between perceived body weight
and actual body mass index among residents in Ga Mashie and Agbogbloshie. It was a cross-
sectional survey conducted on a sample of 700 adults aged 15-59 years. It was based on data
from the second round of Edulink Urban and Poverty survey conducted in three poor urban
communities in Accra, Ghana in 2011 by the Regional Institute for Population Studies
(RIPS). Chi-square tests and multinomial logistic regression analysis were used to analyse the
data. Basically, respondents misperceived their weight. Although misperception of body
weight was found in each category of body weight, underestimation and overestimation of
weight was higher among respondents who perceived themselves as underweight and obese
(79% and 45% respectively). Even though a sizeable proportion of respondents misperceived
their weight, they did nothing about it. The perceptions people had about their weight
influenced their dietary behaviour but not their engagement in physical activity. While 78.3%
of those who perceived themselves to be overweight belonged to the category of high dietary
diversity score, 93.5% of them were physically inactive. Perceived weight remained
significantly associated with actual BMI even after controlling for some confounders. Other
variables that predicted BMI were sex, age, marital status and type of occupation. Males are
less likely to be overweight or obese compared to females (Odds Ratio=0.415 (p=0.002) and
0.072 (p=0.000) respectively). Based on the finding of the study, it is recommended that there
should be a continual sensitization of the regenerative health policy on healthy diet especially
among women. Intervention programs should also target adults.
Description
Thesis (MPHIL)-University of Ghana, 2013