Cross-sectional study of diet and risk factors for metabolic diseases in a Ghanaian population in Sydney, Australia

Ethnic groups in affluent environments experience higher rates of metabolic diseases than their native counterparts. Our objective was to determine the prevalence of metabolic risk factors in Ghanaians in Sydney, and to investigate the relationship with dietary and lifestyle factors. Cross-sectional design with anthropometry, blood pressure, plasma lipids, glucose and insulin concentrations were measured on two occasions on each subject. Dietary information was obtained by three 24-h dietary recalls. Adults (45 male, 35 female) were recruited from a local association in Sydney, Australia. Overweight was observed in a large proportion of subjects (71% and 66% of men and women, respectively), with 18% of men and 26% of women classified as obese. Abdominal overweight was seen in 63% and 74% of men and women, respectively. Abdominal obesity was seen in 20% of men and 49% of women. Hypertension was detected in 40% of men and 17% of women, 16% of men and 6% of women were diagnosed with definite hypertension. Seventy-one per cent of men and 29% of women were classified as hypercholesterolaemic and 67% of men and 23% of women had elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. In men, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and hypertriacylglycerolaemia affected 18% and 13%, respectively. Fasting hyperinsulinaemia was observed in 14% and 9% of men and women, respectively. The majority of subjects (73%) sustained one or more metabolic risk factors. Dietary fat contributed 33% and 35% of total energy intake in men and women, respectively, saturated fat contributing 11% in both sexes. A high prevalence of overweight, diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidaemia exists in this population, particularly in men, highlighting the need for intervention.