Abstract

Childhood obesity may lead to obesity in adolescent and adulthood and has serious public health consequences. Therefore, this study sought to determine the predictors of overweight/obesity among School-Going Adolescents (SGAs) in Hohoe, Volta region, Ghana to inform health promotion and policies. This was a cross-sectional study among 400 SGAs aged 10-19 years. A pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire was used to obtain information on background characteristics, eating patterns and Physical Activity (PA). Weight and height were measured following standard procedures and transformed into z-scores using WHO Anthro+. Percentage Body Fat (%BF) and Fat Mass Index (FMI) were determined using Omron® body composition monitor. Regression models were used to determine predictors of FMI and overweight/obesity. The mean age was 15±2 years, 56.8% were females, 52.0% attended private schools and 63% ate 3X daily but breakfast was the most skipped meal (26.0%). Overweight/obesity prevalence was 15.1%. Mean %BF and FMI were 18.61±10.83 and 3.81±2.30. Sex, school type, weight and fat-free mass were significant predictors of FMI. Daily moderate PA>30 minutes and vigorous PA>60 minutes decreased adolescents’ odds of being overweight/obesity by 67% and 63% respectively compared to PA time≤30 minutes (p=0.01). Playing at school is protective against adolescent overweight/ obesity (AOR=0.34; 95%CI=0.12-.94; p=0.04). Playing at school attenuated the possible effect of school type on adolescents’ odds of being overweight/obese. Increasing PA at or outside the school should be encouraged to curtail the upsurge of overweight/obesity among adolescents.

Keywords: Overweight/Obesity; Percent body fat; Fat-free mass index; Fat mass index; Waist-to-hip ratio; School-going adolescents; Ghana

Abbreviations: FFMI: Fat-Free Mass Index; FMI: Fat Mass Index; SES: Socio-Economic Status; VPA: Vigorous-Intensity Physical Activity; MPA: Moderate Physical Activity; TPAL: Total Physical Activity Level