Asiedu Enoch Sam Sakyi, Otoo Gloria Ethel, Ohemeng Agartha
Department of Nutrition and Food Science, School of Biological Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
PLOS Glob Public Health. 2025 Aug 4;5(8):e0004931. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0004931. eCollection 2025.
Objective measures of overweight/obesity have shown consistent association with other key non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as type II diabetes and hypertension, but there is a gap in knowledge about the role of how people's perceived weight in the aetiology of these diseases, especially in the African context. This study investigated the relationship between weight perception and NCD risk factors among women living in an urban setting in Ghana. A cross-sectional design was employed to recruit 378 female adults aged 18-65 years in the Accra Metropolis using convenience sampling method. Weight perception was assessed using the Feel-weight-status minus Actual-weight-status Index. Obesity was diagnosed using BMI based on the World Health Organization cut-offs. Elevated blood sugar level and pressure were assessed through a single random blood sugar test and multiple blood pressure readings, respectively. Regression models were used to determine associations between weight perception and NCD risk factors, while controlling for potential confounders. Approximately 80% of overweight participants and 90% of obese participants underestimated their weight. The proportion at risk of central obesity, elevated blood pressure, and elevated blood glucose level were 49.5%, 29.1%, and 6.6%, respectively. Age was associated with higher odds of elevated blood glucose levels (OR = 1.049, 95% CI: 1.026 - 1.073, p < 0.0001), elevated blood pressure (OR = 1.051, 95% CI: 1.031 - 1.072, p < 0.0001), and overweight/obesity (OR = 1.065, 95% CI: 1.042 - 0.089, p < 0.0001). Accurate weight perception was associated with lower odds of overweight/obesity (OR = 0.069, 95% CI: 0.038, 0.126, p < 0.0001), but was not significantly associated with elevated blood pressure and blood glucose levels. Accurate weight perception was negatively associated with obesity among the study participants. Public health education is needed to promote accurate weight perception among women as this may help to address objective measures of overweight/obesity and mitigate NCD risk in this sub-population.
超重/肥胖的客观测量结果显示与其他关键的非传染性疾病（如II型糖尿病和高血压）存在一致的关联，但对于人们对体重的认知在这些疾病病因中的作用，尤其是在非洲背景下，仍存在知识空白。本研究调查了加纳城市地区女性体重认知与非传染性疾病风险因素之间的关系。采用横断面设计，通过便利抽样法在阿克拉都会区招募了378名年龄在18 - 65岁之间的成年女性。使用“感觉体重状态减去实际体重状态指数”评估体重认知。根据世界卫生组织的标准，使用体重指数（BMI）诊断肥胖。分别通过单次随机血糖测试和多次血压读数评估血糖水平升高和血压升高情况。在控制潜在混杂因素的同时，使用回归模型确定体重认知与非传染性疾病风险因素之间的关联。约80%的超重参与者和90%的肥胖参与者低估了自己的体重。中心性肥胖、血压升高和血糖水平升高的风险比例分别为49.5%、29.1%和6.6%。年龄与血糖水平升高（OR = 1.049，95% CI：1.026 - 1.073，p < 0.0001）、血压升高（OR = 1.051，95% CI：1.031 - 1.072，p < 0.0001）以及超重/肥胖（OR = 1.065，95% CI：1.042 - 0.089，p < 0.0001）的较高几率相关。准确的体重认知与超重/肥胖的较低几率相关（OR = 0.069，95% CI：0.038，0.126，p < 0.0001），但与血压升高和血糖水平升高无显著关联。在研究参与者中，准确的体重认知与肥胖呈负相关。需要开展公共卫生教育以促进女性对体重的准确认知，因为这可能有助于解决超重/肥胖的客观测量问题，并降低该亚人群的非传染性疾病风险。
