Ghana
- Overview
- Obesity prevalence
- Trends over time
- Contextual factors
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National obesity risk *7/10This is a composite ‘obesity risk’ score (out of 10, the highest risk) based on obesity prevalence, rate of increase, likelihood of meeting the 2025 target, treatment indicator and childhood stunting levels.Childhood obesity risk *4.5/11This is a ‘risk score’ for each country’s likelihood of having or acquiring a major childhood obesity problem during the 2020s, taking account of current prevalence levels and risk for future obesity (based on stunting among infants, maternal obesity, maternal smoking, and breastfeeding rates).
Obesity prevalence
Trends over time
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The report card collates all the most-recent graphics for this country. If you would like to produce a custom report based on selected graphics, just tap the Add to custom PDF button below the graphics you would like to use.Population breakdowns
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Contextual factors
Obesity prevalence
Women, 2017
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-49 |
| Sample size: | 1002 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | University of Ghana, GroundWork, University of Wisconsin-Madison, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust, UNICEF. Ghana Micronutrient Survey 2017. Accra, Ghana; 2017 |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 2016-2017
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 18+ |
| Sample size: | 1106 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Li J, Owusu IK, Geng Q, Folson AA, Zheng Z, Adu-Boakye Y, Dong X, Wu WC, Agyekum F, Fei H, Ayetey H, Deng M, Adomako-Boateng F, Jiang Z, Abubakari BB, Xian Z, Fokuoh FN, Appiah LT, Liu S, Lin C. Cardiometabolic Risk Factors and Preclinical Target Organ Damage Among Adults in Ghana: Findings From a National Study. J Am Heart Assoc. 2020 Dec 15;9(24):e017492. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.120.017492. Epub 2020 Dec 7. PMID: 33283559; PMCID: PMC7955390. |
| Notes: | Age Standardised |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Women, 2014
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-49 |
| Sample size: | 4268 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Ghana Statistical Service - GSS, Ghana Health Service - GHS, and ICF International. 2015. Ghana Demographic and Health Survey 2014. Rockville, Maryland, USA: GSS, GHS, and ICF International. Available at http://www.dhsprogram.com/publications/publication-FR307-DHS-Final-Reports.cfm (last accessed 11th April 2016) |
| Notes: | Demographic Health Survey data includes ever married women aged 15-49 years only and may include males aged 15-59. |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Women, 2008
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-49 |
| Sample size: | 4380 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Ghana Statistical Service - GSS, Ghana Health Service - GHS, and ICF Macro. 2009. Ghana Demographic and Health Survey 2008. Accra, Ghana: GSS, GHS, and ICF Macro. |
| Notes: | Demographic Health Survey data includes ever married women aged 15-49 years only and may include males aged 15-59. |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 2004
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 20+ |
| Sample size: | 1431 |
| Area covered: | Regional |
| References: | Agyemang C. Rural and urban differences in blood pressure and hypertension in Ghana, West Africa. Public Health. 2006 Jun;120(6):525-33. doi: 10.1016/j.puhe.2006.02.002. Epub 2006 May 8. PMID: 16684547. |
| Notes: | Due to limited availability on data in males in Ghana, we calculated total male and female figures (from separate urban and rural figures) using the World Bank % Urban for Ghana from 2004. |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Women, 2003
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-49 |
| Sample size: | 4835 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Ghana Statistical Service - GSS, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research - NMIMR/Ghana, and ORC Macro. 2004. Ghana Demographic and Health Survey 2003. Calverton, Maryland: GSS, NMIMR, and ORC Macro. |
| Notes: | Demographic Health Survey data includes ever married women aged 15-49 years only and may include males aged 15-59. |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Women, 1993
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-49 |
| Sample size: | 1173 |
| References: | Martorell R, Khan LK, Hughes ML, Grummer Strawn LM. Obesity in women from developing countries. EJCN (2000) 54;247-252 |
| Notes: | The data from this paper was sourced from the Demographic Health Survey Programme https://dhsprogram.com/ Central Statistical Office and Macro International. Calverton, Maryland, USA |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Children, 2017-2018
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 8775 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Ghana Statistical Service, 2018. Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS2017/18), Survey Findings Report. Accra, Ghana: GSS.https://mics-surveys-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/MICS6/West%20and%20Central%20Africa/Ghana/2017-2018/Survey%20findings/Ghana%202017-18%20MICS%20Survey%20Findings%20Report_English.pdf (Last accessed 22.06.21) |
| Notes: | Infants. |
| Definitions: | Weight for Height. Overweight = 2SD-3SD, Obesity =>3SD |
| Cutoffs: | Other |
Children, 2014
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-19 |
| Sample size: | 1358 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Benedict, Rukundo K., Allison Schmale, and Sorrel Namaste. 2018. Adolescent Nutrition 2000-2017: DHS Data on Adolescents Age 15-19. DHS Comparative Report No. 47. Rockville, Maryland, USA: ICF. Ghana Statistical Service - GSS, Ghana Health Service - GHS, and ICF International. 2015. Ghana Demographic and Health Survey 2014. Rockville, Maryland, USA: GSS, GHS, and ICF International |
| Notes: | 651 girls and 707 boys |
| Definitions: | BMI for age: between +1 SD and +2 SD is overweight and greater than +2 SD is obesity |
| Cutoffs: | WHO 2007 |
Children, 2012
| Survey type: | Self-reported |
| Age: | 13-17 |
| Sample size: | 1984 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Ghana - Global School-Based Student Health Survey 2012 https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/gshs/ghana/en/ (Last accessed 20.10.2020) |
| Notes: | A two-stage cluster sample design was used to produce data representative of all students in Grades SHS 1-4 in Ghana Senior High. |
| Cutoffs: | WHO |
Children, 2007
| Survey type: | Self-reported |
| Age: | 13-15 |
| Sample size: | 6236 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS), available at https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/gshs/2007_Ghana_fact_sheet.pdf?ua=1 (last accessed 24.11.20) |
| Cutoffs: | WHO |
% Adults living with obesity, 1993-2017
| Survey type: | Measured |
| References: | 1993: Martorell R, Khan LK, Hughes ML, Grummer Strawn LM. Obesity in women from developing countries. EJCN (2000) 54;247-252 2003: Ghana Statistical Service - GSS, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research - NMIMR/Ghana, and ORC Macro. 2004. Ghana Demographic and Health Survey 2003. Calverton, Maryland: GSS, NMIMR, and ORC Macro. 2008: Ghana Statistical Service - GSS, Ghana Health Service - GHS, and ICF Macro. 2009. Ghana Demographic and Health Survey 2008. Accra, Ghana: GSS, GHS, and ICF Macro. 2014: Ghana Statistical Service - GSS, Ghana Health Service - GHS, and ICF International. 2015. Ghana Demographic and Health Survey 2014. Rockville, Maryland, USA: GSS, GHS, and ICF International. Available at http://www.dhsprogram.com/publications/publication-FR307-DHS-Final-Reports.cfm (last accessed 11th April 2016) 2017: University of Ghana, GroundWork, University of Wisconsin-Madison, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust, UNICEF. Ghana Micronutrient Survey 2017. Accra, Ghana; 2017 |
| Notes: | Adults 15-49 |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
| Different methodologies may have been used to collect this data and so data from different surveys may not be strictly comparable. Please check with original data sources for methodologies used. | |
% Adults living with overweight or obesity, 1993-2017
| Survey type: | Measured |
| References: | 1993: Martorell R, Khan LK, Hughes ML, Grummer Strawn LM. Obesity in women from developing countries. EJCN (2000) 54;247-252 2003: Ghana Statistical Service - GSS, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research - NMIMR/Ghana, and ORC Macro. 2004. Ghana Demographic and Health Survey 2003. Calverton, Maryland: GSS, NMIMR, and ORC Macro. 2008: Ghana Statistical Service - GSS, Ghana Health Service - GHS, and ICF Macro. 2009. Ghana Demographic and Health Survey 2008. Accra, Ghana: GSS, GHS, and ICF Macro. 2014: Ghana Statistical Service - GSS, Ghana Health Service - GHS, and ICF International. 2015. Ghana Demographic and Health Survey 2014. Rockville, Maryland, USA: GSS, GHS, and ICF International. Available at http://www.dhsprogram.com/publications/publication-FR307-DHS-Final-Reports.cfm (last accessed 11th April 2016) 2017: University of Ghana, GroundWork, University of Wisconsin-Madison, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust, UNICEF. Ghana Micronutrient Survey 2017. Accra, Ghana; 2017 |
| Notes: | Adults 15-49 |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
| Different methodologies may have been used to collect this data and so data from different surveys may not be strictly comparable. Please check with original data sources for methodologies used. | |
