KNOWLEDGE AND PERCEPTION AS DETERMINANTS OF OBESITY IN PERI-URBAN AND URBAN DISTRICTS OF GHANA

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the relationship between knowledge and perception of overweight/obesity, on obesity development. Method: This was a cross-sectional analytical study conducted in some peri-urban and urban communities in Ghana. Open-ended questionnaires were used to assess the knowledge and perception of 512 men and women about overweight/obesity. Anthropometric and percent body fat measurements were performed on all respondents. Data were analyzed using chi-square and logistic regression. Results: Out of 87% peri-urban participants who considered they had a healthy body weight, 31% were overweight/obese (p<0.001), while 40.1% of 79.5% urban respondents who considered their body weight as normal were overweight/obese (p<0.001). Perception of nutritional status was a predictor of overweight/obesity in both urban (p<0.001) and peri- urban areas (p<0.008) but highest in the urban district. Conclusion: Perception of obesity affects risk for obesity development. In both urban and peri-urban communities respondents had wrong perceptions about their body weight and this may have negative implications on their health. The findings suggest a need for public education on body weight and related health risk to help reduce overweight/obesity prevalence and associated co-morbidities.