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. 2025 Jun 20;44(1):212.
doi: 10.1186/s41043-025-00935-x.

Trends and economic inequalities in obesity prevalence in Ghana: a cross-sectional study spanning 2008-2022

Joshua Okyere  1   2
Affiliations

Trends and economic inequalities in obesity prevalence in Ghana: a cross-sectional study spanning 2008-2022

Joshua Okyere. J Health Popul Nutr. .

Abstract

Background: In Ghana, obesity is more prevalent among women. The adverse health outcomes associated with obesity echo the urgency for low-and-middle-income countries like Ghana to track the trends and identify economic inequalities in order to inform policy direction and interventions. Hence, this study examines the trends and economic inequalities in obesity prevalence among women in Ghana.

Methods: This study pooled data from the 2008 (n = 4899), 2014 (n = 4748) and 2022 (n = 7617) Ghana demographic and health survey data. Descriptive analysis as well as trend analysis and multivariable logistic regression were performed. Erreygers Concentration Index (ECI) was used to estimate the economic inequalities in obesity prevalence.

Results: The findings suggest an increasing trend in the prevalence of obesity rising from 9.3% in 2008 to 18.8% in 2022. Year-to-year comparisons showed that the odds of obesity increased by 4.3% between 2008 and 2014 (OR = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.03-1.06), by 1.7% between 2014 and 2022 (OR = 1.02, 95%CI: 1.01-1.03), and by 6.1% between 2008 and 2022 (OR = 1.06, 95%CI: 1.05-1.07). Economic status, as measured by wealth index, was significant with the richest women having nearly eight times higher odds of obesity compared to the poorest (AOR = 7.76, 95%CI: 5.94-10.13). The ECI was 0.1430 (p < 0.001), indicating a pro-rich concentration of obesity.

Conclusion: There are pro-rich inequalities in obesity prevalence in Ghana. Wealthier women, particularly those in urban and coastal areas, older age groups, and those with higher parity, are disproportionately affected by obesity. Policies and interventions aimed at reducing economic inequalities in obesity should consider the unique challenges faced by wealthier populations, such as promoting healthier diets and physical activity, while also addressing the broader structural factors that contribute to obesogenic environments.

Keywords: Economic inequalities; Obesity; Population health; Public health; Trends.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethical approval and consent to participate: Ethical clearance was not required for this study since I utilized the publicly available DHS dataset. I acquired the datasets through the DHS Program after completing the requisite registration process and obtaining approval for their utilization. My adherence to ethical guidelines governing the use of secondary datasets in research publications was comprehensive. For detailed information on our utilization of the DHS data and the ethical standards adhered to, please refer to the following link: http://goo.gl/ny8T6X . Consent for publication: None declared. Competing interests: The author declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Trends in the prevalence of obesity among Ghanaian women, 2008–2022
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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