OBESITY STATUS OF BASIC SCHOOL PUPILS IN CAPE COAST, GHANA

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the obesity status among primary school pupils in Cape Coast, Ghana. A secondary purpose was to establish the differences in obesity status between male and female pupils. Two hundred and eighty-nine primary four pupils (males = 123, females = 166, mean age = 11) were purposively selected for the study. Centre for Disease Control standards for Body Mass Index, (weight-for-age growth charts for girls and boys) were used in classifying the weight status of the pupils. Additionally, independent sample t-Test was used to explore the difference between/boys and girls in their obesity levels. The results indicated that 21% of the pupils studied were obese. Additionally there was a significant difference, t (287) = -2.26, p < .05, between male and female pupils with the females more obese (M = 19.60, SD = 5.63) than the males (M = 18.28, SD = 3.67). This indicates that obesity is high in primary school children with rates are higher in girls than in boys. It was recommended among others that body composition screening be incorporated into the admission process of every school and be carried out at regular intervals.