A senior lecturer of nutrition at the University of Ghana, Dr. Seth Adu-Afarwuah, has presented the research findings in Accra, attributed the prevalence of obesity, especially in the urban areas to top sedentary lifestyle and increasing taste for packed foods.
The report, which was conducted among 1,064 non-pregnant women,1,234 children and 2159 household across the country between May and June last year, shows that 49 per cent of women in urban areas are obese, while those in rural areas account for 29 per cent.
According to the report, 47 per cent of the obese women are in the southern belt of the country, comprising the Greater Accra, Ashanti and Eastern regions, while 19 per cent lives in the three regions of the north.
A person is said to be obese when the Body Mass Index (BMI), which is the measure of the body fat based on height and weight, is 30kg or more, rather than the normal BMI that ranges between 18.5kg and 24.9kg.Overweight occurs when a person has a BMI that is between 25kg and 29.9 kg.
The objective of the study was to generate ready and reliable data on micronutrients to help address malnutrition and improve on the health condition of children and women
The research team was led by the University of Ghana with funding support from the United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Canadian Government.