{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,16]],"date-time":"2026-02-16T16:40:36Z","timestamp":1771260036438,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":49,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,1,13]],"date-time":"2023-01-13T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1673568000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS ONE"],"abstract":"<jats:sec id=\"sec001\">\n<jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>Excess weight gain is a problem with a significant impact on health and quality of life as well as the consequent economic burden on human populations. While society advocates preference for excess weight gain, limited evidence exists concerning postmenopausal women\u2019s experiences in Ghana.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec002\">\n<jats:title>Aim<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>The current study explored the experiences regarding excess weight (overweight and obesity) gain among Ghanaian postmenopausal women in Bono East (Techiman) region.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec003\">\n<jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>This is a qualitative exploratory descriptive study where anthropometric measurements [body mass index (BMI), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR)] were determined and participants who were identified with excess weight (obesity and overweight) were recruited to participate in a focus group discussion (FGD). Four focus group discussions were held and 24 postmenopausal women (&gt;45 years) in Techiman took part. Discussions were audio-recorded and transcribed for thematic analysis.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec004\">\n<jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>From the qualitative analysis of the FGD, three major themes emerged from the study namely, (i) perception of body weight, (ii) measures to reduce body weight, and (iii) support to adhere to the weight management program. Sub-themes revealed that weight gained was viewed as the presence of diseases and admired by society as a culturally accepted body image. Diet-related changes, a combination of diet modification and physical activity, and weight management supplements emerged as measures to reduce excess weight. Support to adhere to the weight program included health education, access, affordable exercise facilities, and social support.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec005\">\n<jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>Sociocultural norms influence the image perception and acceptance of weight gain among postmenopausal women in Ghana, but there is an acknowledgment of the perceived negative health implications of such excess weight. Measures for weight reduction and support to adhere to the weight reduction programme require attention in Ghana.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0278935","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,1,13]],"date-time":"2023-01-13T18:22:31Z","timestamp":1673634151000},"page":"e0278935","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["An exploratory study on excess weight gain: Experiences of Postmenopausal Women in Ghana"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"18","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6750-3855","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Isaac","family":"Mensah Bonsu","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Hellen","family":"Myezwa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Corlia","family":"Brandt","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Adedayo Tunde","family":"Ajidahun","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Monday Omoniyi","family":"Moses","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Benjamin","family":"Asamoah","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,1,13]]},"reference":[{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0278935.ref001","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"276","DOI":"10.1016\/j.clindermatol.2004.01.010","article-title":"Obesity: the worldwide epidemic.","volume":"22","author":"PT James","year":"2004","journal-title":"Clinics in dermatology."},{"key":"pone.0278935.ref002","author":"E Turner","journal-title":"Childhood obesity: an economic perspective"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0278935.ref003","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"297","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1467-789X.2007.00462.x","article-title":"Prevalence and time trends in obesity among adult West African populations: a meta\u2010analysis.","volume":"9","author":"AR Abubakari","year":"2008","journal-title":"Obesity Reviews."},{"key":"pone.0278935.ref004","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"966","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2015.00966","article-title":"The relationship between obesity and quality of life in Brazilian adults.","volume":"6","author":"FB Pimenta","year":"2015","journal-title":"Frontiers in psychology."},{"key":"pone.0278935.ref005","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"941","DOI":"10.1038\/oby.2008.636","article-title":"The stigma of obesity are view and update.","volume":"17","author":"P. 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