scholarly journals Sociodemographic variations in obesity among Ghanaian adults

2003 ◽  
Vol 6 (8) ◽  
pp. 751-757 ◽  
Author(s):  
Albert GB Amoah

AbstractObjectives:To determine the sociodemographic associations of obesity in Ghana.Design:A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on a sample of 6300 adults aged 25 years and over who were selected by random cluster sampling.Setting:Two urban (high-class and low-class suburbs) and a rural community in Accra, Ghana.Subjects and methods:In total, 4731 (1857 males, 2874 females) subjects participated. Demographic data were obtained by a questionnaire and height and weight were determined with subjects in light clothing and without shoes.Results:The overall crude prevalence of overweight and obesity was 23.4 and 14.1%, respectively. The rates of overweight (27.1 vs. 17.5%) and obesity (20.2 vs. 4.6%) were higher in females than males. Obesity increased with age up to 64 years. There were more overweight and obesity in the urban high-class residents compared with the low-class residents and in urban than rural subjects. Overweight and obesity were highest among the Akan and Ga tribes and relatively low among Ewes. Subjects with tertiary education had the highest prevalence of obesity (18.8%) compared with less literate and illiterate subjects (12.5–13.8%). Subjects whose jobs were of a sedentary nature had higher levels of obesity (15%) than subjects whose jobs involved heavy physical activity (10%). Subjects who did not engage in leisure-time physical activity were more obese than those who had three or more sessions of leisure-time physical activity per week (15.3 vs. 13.5%).Conclusions:Overweight and obesity are common among residents in the Accra area. Older age, female gender, urban, high-class residence, sedentary occupation and tertiary education were associated with higher levels of obesity. Policies and programmes that promote healthy lifestyles may prove beneficial.

2005 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 275-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juvenal Soares Dias-da-Costa ◽  
Pedro Curi Hallal ◽  
Jonathan Charles Kingdon Wells ◽  
Tiago Daltoé ◽  
Sandra Costa Fuchs ◽  
...  

We aimed to measure the prevalence of physical inactivity (PI) during leisure time and to identify variables associated with it in a southern Brazilian adult population. A population-based cross-sectional study was carried out, covering a multiple-stage sample of 1,968 subjects aged 20-69 years. Weekly participation in leisure-time physical activity was addressed. For each activity, energy expenditure was calculated using data on duration, metabolic equivalent, and body weight. Energy expenditures of individual activities were summed to give a weekly total. PI was defined as fewer than 1,000 kilocalories per week. The prevalence of PI was 80.7% (95%CI: 78.9-82.4). After adjusted analyses, the following variables were positively associated with the outcome: female gender, age, living with a partner, and smoking. Schooling and economic status were inversely associated with PI. Chronically undernourished individuals were significantly more likely to be inactive. We found no differences according to skin color or alcohol consumption. In conclusion, the prevalence of PI in this adult population was higher than in populations from developed countries, but the associated variables were similar.


2012 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. 2246-2252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karimollah Hajian-Tilaki ◽  
Behzad Heidari

AbstractObjectiveThe objective of the present study was to investigate the prevalences of overweight and obesity and their association with physical activity pattern among adolescents in northern Iran.DesignA cross-sectional study.SettingBabol, northern Iran.SubjectsA representative sample of 1200 adolescents aged 12–17 years was recruited. All selected adolescents were interviewed, their leisure-time and sport physical activities were collected by a standard Baecke questionnaire and their height and weight were measured by standard methods. The diagnosis of overweight and obesity was determined by comparing BMI values with the BMI index for age and sex percentiles set by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2000.ResultsThe prevalences of overweight and obesity were 15·1 % and 8·3 %, respectively. The proportion of obesity was significantly higher in boys than in girls (10·2 % v. 6·5 %, P = 0·028). Overall, the levels of high, moderate and low leisure-time physical activity were 2·9 %, 79·4 % and 17·7 %, respectively. The corresponding levels of high, moderate and low sport physical activity were 17·4 %, 75·2 % and 7·4 %. The levels of leisure-time and sport physical activities were significantly higher among the boys than the girls (P < 0·001). There was also a significant association of studying in private schools and playing computer games with overweight/obesity (P < 0·001). Moderate leisure-time physical activity was unexpectedly associated with a greater risk of overweight/obesity compared with the low level (P = 0·002).ConclusionsThe findings indicate a high prevalence of overweight/obesity in these Iranian adolescents, particularly the boys. The influence of physical activity and diet on overweight/obesity requires further prospective studies.


2012 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark W. Swanson ◽  
Eric Bodner ◽  
Patricia Sawyer ◽  
Richard M. Allman

Little is known about the effect of reduced vision on physical activity in older adults. This study evaluates the association of visual acuity level, self-reported vision, and ocular disease conditions with leisure-time physical activity and calculated caloric expenditure. A cross-sectional study of 911 subjects 65 yr and older from the University of Alabama at Birmingham Study of Aging (SOA) cohort was conducted evaluating the association of vision-related variables to weekly kilocalorie expenditure calculated from the 17-item Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire. Ordinal logistic regression was used to evaluate possible associations while controlling for potential confounders. In multivariate analyses, each lower step in visual acuity below 20/50 was significantly associated with reduced odds of having a higher level of physical activity, OR 0.81, 95% CI 0.67, 0.97. Reduced visual acuity appears to be independently associated with lower levels of physical activity among community-dwelling adults.


Author(s):  
Helen M. Parker ◽  
Robyn Gallagher ◽  
Christine Duffield ◽  
Ding Ding ◽  
David Sibbritt ◽  
...  

Background: Recent research has focused on the potential benefits of physical activity in occupational settings in addition to leisure time. However, occupational physical activity (OPA) differs substantially for occupations that require heavy and repetitive physical work, such as nursing. We explored associations between leisure time and OPA and health outcomes in working nurses and midwives. Methods: Nurses who were enrolled in the Fit For the Future study (New South Wales, Australia) and who completed physical activity questionnaires (n = 4343) were classified according to high (HO) or low (LO) occupational and high (HL) or low (LL) leisure-time physical activity (LTPA): HO performed walking/heavy labor most/all of the time at work; HL met the guidelines of 150 minutes per week moderate to vigorous LTPA, creating 4 categories: HOLL, HOHL, LOHL, and LOLL. Results: HL predicted better self-rated health (unstandardized B = 0.51, 95% confidence interval, 0.44 to 0.57) and lower likelihood of ≥3 sick days in the past 12 months (OR: 0.71, 95% confidence interval, 0.61 to 0.83), whereas HO predicted higher likelihood of ≥3 sick days (OR: 1.17, 95% confidence interval, 1.01 to 1.35), adjusting for all variables. Conclusions: OPA may not confer the same health benefits as LTPA for nurses. Health-promoting interventions should emphasize the importance of achieving adequate moderate to vigorous LTPA for all, including those undertaking substantial OPA.


Author(s):  
Kiarri N. Kershaw ◽  
Derek J. Marsh ◽  
Emma G. Crenshaw ◽  
Rebecca B. McNeil ◽  
Victoria L. Pemberton ◽  
...  

Background: Several features of the neighborhood built environment have been shown to promote leisure-time physical activity (PA) in the general population, but few studies have examined its impact on PA during pregnancy. Methods: Data were extracted from 8362 Nulliparous Pregnancy Outcomes Study: Monitoring Mothers-to-Be cohort participants (2010–2013). Residential address information was linked to 3 built environment characteristics: number of gyms and recreation areas within a 3-km radius of residence and census block level walkability. Self-reported leisure-time PA was measured in each trimester and dichotomized as meeting PA guidelines or not. Relative risks for cross-sectional associations between neighborhood characteristics and meeting PA guidelines were estimated using Poisson regression. Results: More gyms and recreation areas were each associated with a greater chance of meeting PA guidelines in models adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics and preexisting conditions. Associations were strongest in the third trimester where each doubling in counts of gyms and recreation areas was associated with 10% (95% confidence interval, 1.07–1.13) and 8% (95% confidence interval, 1.03–1.12), respectively, greater likelihood of meeting PA guidelines. Associations were similar though weaker for walkability. Conclusions: Results from a large, multisite cohort suggest that these built environment characteristics have similar PA-promoting benefits in pregnant women as seen in more general populations.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Philippe Lachance ◽  
Marc Corbiere ◽  
Gabriel Hains-Monfette ◽  
Paquito Bernard

Background. Work is reported as one of the main sources of psychological stress. Because of its role in the onset of burnout and impact on economic and health systems, work-related stress (WS) has become an issue of much concern. Among modifiable factors capable of reducing WS, two categories of physical activity (PA), namely leisure-time and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (LTPA and MVPA), show promising evidence. Previous findings suggest that LTPA and MVPA allow adults to experience psychological detachment from job demands and restore their depleted resources at work. However, the optimal independent doses of LTPA and MVPA associated with a lower WS level has not yet been established. Methods. The aim of this study was therefore to address this gap using a cross-sectional, nationally representative sample of 4 200 Canadian workers. MVPA was measured through accelerometry and a self-reported assessment was conducted to collect data on WS and LTPA. Results. Generalized additive models indicated that one hour a day on average spent doing a LTPA of 8.5 METs-hour was associated with the highest benefits on WS (p < 0.001, Adjusted R2 = 0.04) while the optimal average daily dose of MVPA was around 90 minutes (p < 0.001, Adjusted R2 = 0.04). Noteworthy, first signs of WS reduction appear long before optimum is reached (e.g. 30 minutes of MVPA), stressing the relevance of merely doing an LTPA/MVPA regardless of the dose. Conclusion. Findings offer practical recommendations for public health policies on the optimal doses of MVPA/LTPA associated with decreased WS.


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