Anthropometric indices and cardiometabolic risk factors in a Ghanaian adolescent population

Abstract

Adolescent overweight and obesity is a public health concern globally, especially in lower- and middleincome countries where there is an additional burden of undernutrition. The prevalence of adolescent overweight/ 2obesity has increased markedly over the past three decades. The transition in dietary habits coupled with reduced physical activity has been blamed for the increasing trend. Overweight/obesity in adolescence is complicated by cardiometabolic, respiratory, musculoskeletal and psychosocial disorders. Additionally, adolescent obesity is a predictor of future development of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and metabolic disorders. The burden of cardiometabolic risk factors associated with adolescent overweight/obesity in Ghana is lacking, the project, therefore, was undertaken to add to the existing knowledge.