Overweight and obesity among women in Ghana.

Abstract

Overweight and obesity are among the leading threats to global health because of their association with increased risk of mortality and morbidity. Based on the pragmatist philosophical stance, a mixed method design was employed in this study to compare the socio-demographic and behavioural factors associated with overweight or obesity between childbearing and non childbearing women in Ghana, using data from the 2003 and 2008 Ghana Demographic and Health Surveys. Further, perceptions, attitudes and experiences of women concerning overweight and obesity were explored using in-depth interviews with purposefully sampled women. using in-depth interviews with purposefully sampled women. In the interviews, participants subjectively explained overweight and obesity. They knew about some causes and consequences of overweight and obesity, but mostly relied on unconventional measures to manage their weight. Some weight stereotyping was evident, with some women denying their overweight or obese status. There is the need for the Ministry of Health to collaborate with other relevant agencies to undertake multi-faceted interventions that target specific groups and behaviours in order to curtail overweight and obesity among women in Ghana.