Table 1

Baseline characteristics of study population by gender, location and level of education

Total numberRural Ghana n=974Urban Ghana n=1400Europe n=2916
ElementarySecondaryHigherElementarySecondaryHigherElementarySecondaryHigher
Men
 Number of participants, N1581467792176123159492576
 Mean age, years (SD)47.7 (12.2)46.0 (12.6)43.3 (13.8)47.9 (11.3)46.7 (11.4)45.5 (12.9)50.0 (8.3)47.7 (9.3)46.3 (11.4)
 Obesity BMI≥30 kg/m2, n (%)01 (0.7)3 (3.9)3 (3.3)11 (6.3)11 (8.9)28 (17.6)93 (18.9)100 (17.4)
 High occupation class, n (%)5 (3.3)8 (5.7)33 (44.0)16 (17.8)41 (23.8)65 (54.6)12 (10.3)88 (22.5)261 (55.8)
 Low physical activity (%)12 (7.6)12 (8.3)17 (22.1)27 (30.3)25 (14.4)35 (28.7)21 (15.5)62 (20.1)86 (24.9)
 Total energy intake ≥3500 kcal/day, n (%)19 (14.5)12 (9.5)11 (15.5)2 (2.2)6 (3.5)7 (5.7)15 (15.5)62 (20.1)86 (24.9)
 Mean years since migration, (SD)*17.6 (8.7)16.9 (9.3)16.8 (10.4)
Women
 Number of participants, N39716531522371116476621592
 Mean age, years (SD)48.3 (12.3)43.1 (11.9)42.9 (13.9)46.7 (11.1)43.1 (10.6)41.0 (12.0)47.8 (7.8)45.7 (9.2)45.2 (10.8)
 Obesity BMI≥30 kg/m2, n (%)30 (7.6)15 (9.2)3 (9.7)178 (34.1)116 (31.3)44 (37.9)241 (50.8)308 (49.8)279 (47.4)
 High occupation class, n (%)36 (9.6)17 (11.3)18 (60.0)172 (36.6)123 (34.7)70 (64.2)26 (10.1)139 (30.6)332 (67.8)
 Low physical activity, n (%)90 (22.7)38 (22.9)10 (32.3)244 (46.9)115 (31.3)47 (40.9)89 (23.9)161 (31.9)154 (32.1)
 Total energy intake ≥3500 kcal/day, n (%)43 (12.4)17 (11.9)5 (18.5)12 (2.3)24 (6.7)9 (7.8)27 (9.0)73 (19.5)77 (23.8)
 Mean years since migration, (SD)*16.7 (8.3)16.8 (9.8)17.8 (10.2)
  • *Restricted to participants in Europe.

  • BMI, body mass index.