Regional and Socio-economic Dimensions of the Obesity “Epidemic” in Ghana

Globally there has been an increase in the prevalence of obesity over the last two decades and low and middle-income countries in particular are being threatened with rising levels of obesity. Research on obesity in developing countries has focused mostly on rural urban differences without necessarily explaining the salient factors that account for these differences. This paper examines the likely regional socioeconomic and socio-cultural factors that explain the differences in obesity prevalence across Ghana. The study draws on data from two nationally representative surveys; the 2008 Ghana Demographic and Health and the 2005-2006 Ghana Living Standards Survey. The results show marked regional variations in socio-economic status and obesity levels. The Greater Accra region which had the most number of households (45.9%) belonging to the highest wealth quintile was also the most urbanized region (90% urban). Greater Accra also recorded the highest prevalence of obesity (19.3%) while the three northern regions which were the least urbanized and had the lowest number of households in the highest wealth quintile had obesity prevalence of less than 5%. These variations in socio-economic status and obesity levels demonstrate that there is more to the problem of obesity in Ghana than just rural urban differences.