title: Adiposity, hypertension and weight management behaviours in Ghanaian type 2 diabetes mellitus patients aged 20-70 years.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study assessed the prevalence of general and abdominal obesity and hypertension as well the weight management behaviours of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  It included 378 diabetes patients seeking care from two hospitals in Ghana. Standard methods and tools were used to assess participants' weight, height, waist circumference (WC), blood pressure (BP) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG). Weight management behaviours were measured using a questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of general obesity, abdominal obesity and hypertension was 20.1%, 46.6% and 67.7% respectively. Abdominal obesity was more likely in participants who: skipped breakfast, engaged in exercise to lose weight and were generally overweight/obese. General overweight and obesity was more likely in participants who: reported receipt of weight management counselling, engaged in exercise to lose weight, had a weight management plan/goal, and were abdominally obese. Hypertension was less likely in participants who had: no formal education, diabetes for ≥5 years and modified their dietary habits to lose weight but more likely in those who skipped breakfast.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Abdominal obesity, general overweight/obesity, and hypertension were frequent in this sample and were influenced by weight management behaviours.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Professions Education and Innovative Learning, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana. Electronic address: vmogre@uds.edu.gh.
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mogre
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, School of Allied Health Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana. Electronic address: apalapeter@rocketmail.com.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Apala
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, School of Allied Health Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana. Electronic address: jnsoh.jn@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jonas A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Nsoh
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, School of Allied Health Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana. Electronic address: pwanaba@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wanaba
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000068959:Body Weight Maintenance; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Abdominal obesity; Hypertension; Obesity; Type 2 diabetes; Weight management behaviours