Dietary intake and the dynamics of stress, hypertension and obesity in a peri-urban community in Accra.
OBJECTIVE
This study intends to investigate the association between dietary intake, stress and prevalence of chronic diseases.


METHODS
The study was a cross-sectional design conducted in two poor peri-urban communities in Accra.


METHODS
A total of 90 households each with a male and female between the ages of 18 and 45 years were sampled, and their socio-demographic status, anthropometric measurement and fasting blood sugar were assessed. Blood pressure was measured and chronic stress/anxiety was determined using the trait and state inventory (T-stai) questionnaire. Three days repeated 24-hour dietary recall was also done. Analysis of variance and linear regression analysis were used in data analysis.


RESULTS
About 28% of the subjects were hypertensive and 55.5% had high chronic stress. Hypertension was higher in males (32.2%) than females (24.4%) (p=.023) whiles stress was higher in females (60.9%) than males (50.0%) (p=.017). Hypertensive subjects recorded higher stress (51.02%) and hypertension was more prevalent in subjects with high stress (32.89%) especially in females (57.14%, p=.036). Hypertension increased with mean age whiles stress decreased with mean age. Hypertensive subjects recorded a significantly higher BMI and sodium intake whiles high stress individuals recorded a lower animal protein but a higher cereal protein intake (p<.05). Chronic stress was associated with intake of low animal protein and high cereal protein. Increased dietary diversity score was associated with decreased obesity prevalence (p<.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Hypertension, chronic stress, and obesity were linked, and affected by dietary sodium, animal protein, and dietary diversity of subjects respectively.
Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana; Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, USA.
Husein
H
Mohammed
Nevin Scrimshaw International Nutrition Foundation, Boston, USA; Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, USA.
Shibani
S
Ghosh
Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
Fred
F
Vuvor
Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana; Department of Food and Nutrition, Iowa State University, Iowa, USA.
Seth
S
Mensah-Armah
Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
Matilda
M
Steiner-Asiedu
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004034:Diet Surveys; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012982:Sodium, Dietary / Q000032:analysis*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
D004044:Dietary Proteins; D012982:Sodium, Dietary
Stress; dietary intake; hypertension; obesity