Overnutrition and associated factors among adults aged 20 years and above in fishing communities in the urban Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana

Abstract

Objective: The study aimed to highlight the determinants of overnutrition (overweight plus obesity) in fishing communities and establish if these were the same as reported elsewhere in Ghana. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: The study was conducted in Idun, Ola and Duakor fishing communities in Cape Coast, Ghana. Subjects: Adults (n 252) aged 20 to 50 years. Results: Results showed that 32 % of participants were overweight/obese (BMI $ 25?0 kg/m2). Participants’ mean age was 31?7 (SD 1?0) years, they had 13?7 (SD 8?1) mean years of formal education, their median monthly income was $US 7?4 (interquartile range $US 3?3, 20?0) and their median daily energy intake was 7?3 (interquartile range 5?3, 9?8) MJ. Significant associations (P , 0?05) were found between BMI and gender, age, years of education, fat intake and marital status. Females were almost eight times more likely to be overweight/obese than males (adjusted OR 5 7?7; 95 % CI 3?6, 16?4). Persons aged $40 years were about six times more likely to be overweight/obese than those aged 20–29 years (adjusted OR 5 6?1; 95 % CI 2?6, 14?1). Married people were nearly three times more likely to be overweight/obese than singles (adjusted OR 5 2?8; 95 % Cl 1?4, 5?7). People with more than 13 years of formal education (adjusted OR 5 0?3; 95 % CI 0?1, 0?9) and people with .30 % fat contribution to daily energy intake (adjusted OR 5 0?3; 95 % CI 0?1, 0?6) had reduced odds of being overweight/obese. Conclusions: Overnutrition was prevalent in the fishing communities and associated with factors such as age, gender, marital status, educational status and fat intake.