Abstract
Background: Temporal changes in anthropometric indices of Ghanaian adults have not been thoroughly researched. In this study, we present results and projections of mean BMI, underweight and obesity prevalence among women (15-49 years) in Ghana. Methods: This is a secondary analysis of the mean BMI, underweight and obesity prevalence data reported in the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) studies in Ghana between 1993 and 2014. Using a simple linear change (regression) model approach, we determine the rate of change of the anthropometric measures and project estimates for the years 2020, 2025 and 2030. Results: Between 1993 and 2014, the mean BMI among Ghanaian women increased by 3 kg/m2 and by 2030, the average Ghanaian woman will have a BMI of around 27.3 Kg/m2. Underweight prevalence has decreased by about 45% from 11.3% in 1993/1998 to 6.2% in 2014 and projected to reach 2.2% by 2030. Obesity on the other hand has seen significant increase of over 400% from 3.4% in 1993 to 15.3% in 2014. By 2030, nearly 23% of Ghanaian women are projected to be obese. Conclusions: Among Ghanaian women, obesity has now outstripped underweight in terms of public health significance. Greater emphasis and urgent measures to address the rising obesity in this country are needed. While the observed trends should inform future healthcare planning and resource allocation, this should in no way undermine undernutrition prevention efforts, as preventing undernourishment is still a good investment for this country. Rather, a broader perspective that seeks to address both undernutrition and overnutrition healthy individuals should be rigorously pursued.
Highlights
Temporal changes in anthropometric indices of Ghanaian adults have not been thoroughly researched
The obtained linear regression equation and the rate of change were used to predict the values for future years (2020, 2025 and 2030). This means that we considered the future changes in mean body mass index (BMI), underweight and obesity prevalence to be a function of the change seen in these measures in the period 1993-2014 [23]
Among women (15-49 years) in Ghana, the mean BMI increased from 21.8 kg/m2 in 1993 to 24.8 kg/m2 in 2014
Summary
Temporal changes in anthropometric indices of Ghanaian adults have not been thoroughly researched. Undernutrition and overnutrition, which are used to represent instances where individuals do not get enough or exceed the nutrients requirements respectively, are both considered to be of significant global public health importance [1, 2]. The 2013 Global Burden of Disease study demonstrated that between 1980 and 2013, the prevalence of overweight and obesity increased across all parts of the world (both developing and developed countries) and reported that no national success in halting the rising trend has been reported over the last three decades [5]. Malnutrition has been estimated to cost the global economy as much as $ 3.5 trillion per year including $2.1 trillion from undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies and $1.4 trillion from obesity and overweight related-NCDs [10]
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