Prevalence and risk factors of obesity among undergraduate student population in Ghana: an evaluation study of body composition indices
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Date
2024
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Publisher
BMC Public Health
Abstract
Background Obesity is a classified risk factor for several of the world’s leading causes of death. In this study, we
combined information contained in body mass index (BMI), total percentage body fat (TPBF) and relative fat mass
(RFM) to estimate obesity prevalence and examine the risk factors associated with obesity.
Methods The study recruited 1027 undergraduate students aged between 16 and 25 years using a cross-sectional
study design and two-stage stratified random sampling between January and April 2019 from the Kwame Nkrumah
University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. Demographic, lifestyle, and family history of chronic disease
data, were collected using a structured questionnaire. Bioelectrical impedance, along with height, weight, age, and
gender, were used to estimate BMI and TPBF. The RFM was calculated using a published equation. The TPBF and RFM
ranges were evaluated based on standard BMI thresholds and an informative combined obesity prevalence estimated
in a Bayesian framework. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate potential risk factors of overweight/
obesity.
Results Concordance between BMI, TPBF and RFM for obesity classification was 84% among female and 82.9%
among male students. The Bayesian analysis revealed a combined prevalence means of obesity of 9.4% (95%CI: 6.9-
12.2%) among female students and 6.7% (95%CI:4.3-9.5%) among male students. The odds of obesity were increased
between 1.8 and 2.5 for females depending on the classification index. A significant increasing trend of obesity was
observed with university-level. A family history of obesity was associated with a high estimate of general, central, and
high TPBF.
Conclusion Using multiple adiposity indicators conjointly in a Bayesian framework offers a greater power to examine
obesity prevalence. We have applied this and reported high obesity prevalence, especially among female students.
University level and family history of obesity were key determinants for obesity among the student population.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Adiposity, Obesity, Body composition, Undergraduate students, Risk factors