Health Consequences and Implications of Obesity Among Market Women in the Kassena Nankana Municipality: A Call for Urgent Public Health Action
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54536/ajfst.v5i2.7020Keywords:
Cardiovascular Diseases, Health Burden, Metabolic Syndrome, Non-Communicable Diseases, Obesity Complications, Public HealthAbstract
Obesity is a major risk factor for numerous non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and represents a significant public health and economic burden globally. This study examined the health consequences and implications of obesity among market women in the Kassena Nankana Municipality of Ghana, with focus on cardiovascular risk factors, metabolic indicators, and the broader health and socioeconomic burden. A cross-sectional study involving 264 market women aged ≥18 years assessed obesity using BMI and waist circumference measurements. Literature review and synthesis of existing evidence on obesity-related health consequences were conducted, with particular focus on cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cancer, musculoskeletal disorders, and psychosocial impacts. The potential health burden was estimated based on obesity prevalence rates and known disease associations from published literature. With obesity prevalence of 54.2% and abdominal obesity prevalence of 73.5%, market women face substantially elevated risks for multiple health consequences. Based on established associations from literature, the obese women in this population are at increased risk for: type 2 diabetes mellitus (2-6 fold increased risk), cardiovascular diseases including coronary heart disease (2-3 fold risk) and stroke (1.5-2.5 fold risk), hypertension (2-6 fold risk), dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome (prevalence increases with obesity severity, reaching 50% in severely obese individuals), certain cancers including breast, endometrial, and colorectal cancers, osteoarthritis particularly of weight-bearing joints, gallbladder disease, sleep apnea, and pregnancy-related complications. The high abdominal obesity prevalence (73.5%) is particularly concerning as visceral fat is strongly associated with insulin resistance, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic syndrome independent of overall obesity. The exceptionally high obesity prevalence among middle-aged and older women (80.8% in 40-50 year olds, 94.4% in 51-65 year olds) suggests that the vast majority of these women will develop one or more obesity-related chronic diseases during their lifetime. Psychosocial consequences including stigma, discrimination, depression, low self-esteem, and reduced quality of life represent additional significant burdens. Economic implications include direct medical costs for treating obesity-related diseases, indirect costs from reduced work productivity and absenteeism, and household financial strain from chronic disease management. The findings underscore obesity as not merely an individual health issue but a population-level crisis requiring immediate policy attention and resource allocation.
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