{"id":117494,"date":"2026-03-02T05:45:47","date_gmt":"2026-03-02T05:45:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=117494"},"modified":"2026-03-02T05:45:47","modified_gmt":"2026-03-02T05:45:47","slug":"beyond-personal-choice-understanding-the-social-and-environmental-drivers-of-overweight-and-obesity-in-ghana","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=117494","title":{"rendered":"Beyond Personal Choice: Understanding the Social and Environmental Drivers of Overweight and Obesity in Ghana"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n \t<\/i> Read Time:<\/span>3 Minute, 42 Second <\/div>\n\n <\/div>
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Overweight and obesity are rising rapidly in Ghana and the trend is especially concerning among women of reproductive age. While many people assume weight gain is simply about \u201ceating too much and moving too little,\u201d<\/em> new research published by my former student (now my colleague) Maxwell Konlan (of Legon Hospital Dietherapy Unit) and his study team in Communications Medicine<\/em>, a Nature journal, demonstrates that the situation is not that straightforward.<\/p>\n

Overweight and obesity (they are 2 different things \u2013 overweight being a BMI of 25\u201329.9\u202fkg\/m\u00b2, and obesity beginning at a BMI of 30\u202fkg\/m\u00b2 or more) are classified as non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and are closely linked to many other serious health conditions that affect millions of people worldwide.<\/p>\n

Excess weight can quietly increase the risk of life-threatening illnesses over time. Obesity, in particular, increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers such as breast and colorectal cancer.<\/p>\n

Beyond the health impacts, overweight and obesity also affect social and economic productivity. They contribute to rising healthcare costs, reduced work capacity, and a growing burden on families and health systems globally.<\/p>\n

The research team analysed nearly two decades of national health data (from the Ghana Demographic and Health Surveys between 2003 and 2022) and found that Ghana\u2019s rising rates of overweight and obesity are strongly linked to broader social and economic changes and not just individual behavior. They also found that overweight and obesity among Ghanaian women aged 15\u201349 has increased significantly over time.<\/p>\n

\"Beyond<\/figure>\n

What is driving the increase?<\/strong><\/p>\n

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  1. Wealth and economic status<\/strong> \u2013 Women from wealthier households were significantly more likely to be overweight or obese compared to women from poorer households. As income increases, dietary patterns often shift toward; greater intake of processed and convenience foods, higher consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, increased eating outside the home and reduced manual labour.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n