Weight perceptions, weight management practices, and nutritional status of emerging adults living in the Accra Metropolis

Abstract Background Many young people have a tendency to be concerned about their physical appearance and undertake practices in order to achieve certain body ideals. There is however limited information from developing countries on the weight perceptions of emerging adults (i.e. individuals leaving the adolescence life stage and preparing to take on adulthood) and whether these opinions influence their nutritional status and weight management practices. This study sought to assess emerging adults’ nutritional status, their weight perceptions and the methods they use to manage their weight. Methods This study was cross-sectional, involving emerging adults (N = 192) recruited at shopping areas in the Accra Metropolis of Ghana. A pretested questionnaire was used to collect information on demographic characteristics, weight perceptions, and weight management strategies. Anthropometric measurements were taken using standard procedures. Descriptive analysis was performed on the demographic data, methods used to manage weight, and weight perceptions. Logistic regression was used to assess possible relationships between weight perceptions and nutritional status as well as weight perceptions and weight management practices. Results The mean age of participants was 21.8(2.2) years with 51.0% of participants being female. Majority of the participants perceived normal weight status as the ideal body for themselves and half of them thought that they were slimmer than they actually were in reality. Three major weight management strategies were identified: engaging in physical activity, dieting and making lifestyle modifications (i.e. changes in normal eating habits coupled with regular physical activity and behavioral changes). Emerging adults who had an inaccurate body image perception were less likely (OR = 0.30, 95% CI: 0.15–0.61) to have a healthy nutritional status than emerging adults who had an accurate body image perception. Conclusion Weight perception was associated with nutritional status. Discussions with nutrition professionals regarding realistic weight ideals would be beneficial for this age-group since half of the study’s participants had inaccurate perceptions about their current weight statuses even though their statuses were normal

Sources of nutrition information and level of nutrition knowledge among young adults in the Accra metropolis

Abstract Background Acquiring accurate and adequate nutrition information is important as it could inform nutritional choices positively and promote the maintenance of a healthy nutritional status. This study assessed a sample of young adults’ nutrition knowledge and identified where they gather information from to guide nutritional choices. Method This was a cross-sectional study involving young adults (N=192) between 18 to 25 years recruited at shopping areas in the Accra Metropolis of Ghana. A pretested questionnaire was used to collect information on demographic characteristics, sources of nutrition information and basic nutrition knowledge. Pearson chi-square test was used to identify possible differences between high and low scorers of the knowledge assessment in terms of their nutrition information acquisition behaviours and logistic regression was conducted to ascertain whether source of nutrition information was related to participants’ nutrition knowledge. Results Online resources were the most popular source (92.7%) used to seek information on nutrition among study participants, and healthcare professionals were perceived to be the most reliable source of nutrition information. Additionally, participants who used healthcare professionals as a source of nutrition information were 61% (95% CI: 0.15-0.99) more likely to have a high nutrition knowledge than participants who did not consult healthcare professionals for nutrition information. Conclusion Online resources serve as a very common source of nutrition information for young adults. Thus, healthcare professionals may need to adopt this as a useful channel to circulate trustworthy nutrition information to this age group