NUTRITIONAL STATUS, SOURCES OF NUTRITION INFORMATION, WEIGHT PERCEPTIONS AND WEIGHT MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AMONG YOUNG ADULTS IN THE ACCRA METROPOLIS

ABSTRACT

Background: Young adults experience significant life changes which often give them prime control over their nutritional choices; there is however limited information from developing countries on the factors that influence nutritional habits in this life stage. This study sought to provide data on the nutrition information acquisition behaviours, how weight was perceived and managed by a sample of young adults living in the Accra metropolis.

Methods: This study was cross-sectional involving young adults (N=192) between 18-25 years recruited at the Accra shopping mall (n=93) and the Makola market (n=99) in the Accra metropolis of Ghana. A pretested questionnaire was used to collect information on demographic characteristics, sources of nutrition information, weight perceptions, weight management strategies, lifestyle and dietary habits. Anthropometric measurements of all study participants were taken using standard procedures. Pearson chi-square test and logistic regression were conducted in order to identify possible associations between sources of nutrition information and the nutritional status; and the possible relationship between weight perception and the nutritional status of young adults.

Results: Online resources were the most used source of nutrition information; healthcare professionals were the least used source, although they were perceived as the most reliable. Half of the study’s participants thought that they were slimmer than they actually were in reality. Majority of study participants perceived normal weight status as the ideal body for themselves and for members of the opposite sex; majority also felt Ghanaian society wanted them to be normal weight. For participants who were actively managing their weight, three major strategies were identified: engaging in physical activity (39.0%), dieting (35.6%) and making lifestyle modifications (25.4%). There was no significant relationship between sources of participants’

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nutrition information and their nutritional status {(95% CI: 0.46 – 1.64) and (95% CI: 0.58 – 2.20)}. However, a significant relationship was observed between weight perception and nutritional status of participants (95% CI: 0.15 – 0.61): young adults who had an inaccurate body image perception were 70% less likely to have a healthy nutritional status than young adults who had an accurate body image perception.

Conclusion: There is a need to enlighten the Ghanaian youth on scouting and identifying quality online nutrition and health information. It would also be helpful for healthcare professionals to use online resources as a mode to offer credible information to young adults on nutrition and nutrition-related topics from a Ghanaian point of view so as to provide guidance to members of the young adulthood population.