Most immigrant groups to the UK from low and middle-income countries have a high risk of overweight/obesity and of associated non-communicable diseases. Community readiness to engage in interventions needs to be understood before appropriate interventions can be implemented.  This study assesses community readiness to prevent overweight/obesity among Ghanaian immigrants in Greater Manchester, England. The community readiness model (CRM) was applied using a semi-structured interview tool with 13 key informants (religious and other key community members) addressing five readiness dimensions (community knowledge of efforts, leadership, community climate, knowledge of the issue and resources). A maximum of 9 points per dimension (from 1= no awareness to 9=high level of community ownership), was assigned, alongside qualitative textual thematic analysis.
The mean readiness score indicated that the study population was in the “vague awareness stage” (3.08 ± 0.98). The highest score was observed for community knowledge of the issue (4.42 ± 0.99) which was in the pre-planning phase, followed by community climate (vague awareness; 3.58 ± 0.62). The lowest scores were seen for resources (denial/resistance; 2.70± 0.61) and Knowledge of efforts (no awareness; 1.53 ± 0.44). Findings identified structural barriers including poor living conditions as a result of poorly paid menial jobs and high work load, contributing to the adoption of unhealthy lifestyle behaviours. Socio-cultural factors such as fatalism, hereditary factors and social status were associated with acceptance of overweight.
Conclusion: Despite recognising overweight/obesity as an important health issue in these communities especially among women, it is not seen as a priority for targeting change. To help these communities to become more ready for interventions that tackle overweight/obesity, the focus should initially be to address the structural barriers identified, including reducing poverty, alongside designing interventions that work with these structural barriers and then focus on the socio-cultural factors.

Most immigrant groups to the UK from low and middle-income countries have a high risk of overweight/obesity and of associated non-communicable diseases. Community readiness to engage in interventions needs to be understood before appropriate interventions can be implemented.  This study assesses community readiness to prevent overweight/obesity among Ghanaian immigrants in Greater Manchester, England. The community readiness model (CRM) was applied using a semi-structured interview tool with 13 key informants (religious and other key community members) addressing five readiness dimensions (community knowledge of efforts, leadership, community climate, knowledge of the issue and resources). A maximum of 9 points per dimension (from 1= no awareness to 9=high level of community ownership), was assigned, alongside qualitative textual thematic analysis.
The mean readiness score indicated that the study population was in the “vague awareness stage” (3.08 ± 0.98)**.** The highest score was observed for community knowledge of the issue (4.42 ± 0.99) which was in the pre-planning phase, followed by community climate (vague awareness; 3.58 ± 0.62). The lowest scores were seen for resources (denial/resistance; 2.70± 0.61) and Knowledge of efforts (no awareness; 1.53 ± 0.44). Findings identified structural barriers including poor living conditions as a result of poorly paid menial jobs and high work load, contributing to the adoption of unhealthy lifestyle behaviours. Socio-cultural factors such as fatalism, hereditary factors and social status were associated with acceptance of overweight.
Conclusion: Despite recognising overweight/obesity as an important health issue in these communities especially among women, it is not seen as a priority for targeting change. To help these communities to become more ready for interventions that tackle overweight/obesity, the focus should initially be to address the structural barriers identified, including reducing poverty, alongside designing interventions that work with these structural barriers and then focus on the socio-cultural factors.

Assessing community readiness for overweight and obesity prevention among Ghanaian immigrants living in Greater Manchester, England

The Nutrition Society Summer Conference 2022 is hosted in collaboration between Sheffield Hallam University, University of Sheffield and Sheffield City Council. It will be the first in-person Summer Conference since the pandemic, held at the Sheffield Hallam University city centre campus.

Sustainability is high on the agenda for individuals and for society as a whole, recent meetings such as COP 26 have highlighted the urgency of addressing climate change, of which food systems are a key factor.

The overarching theme of this conference highlights sustainability- sustainability is a large, diverse and contemporary issue consisting of environmental, societal and health perspectives which will be addressed from varying angles. 

This meeting will consider how to build ethical food systems, tackle inequalities and sustain health and wellbeing for future generations.

The Organising Committee have considered local food provision and will offer you a chance to explore Sheffield and its local produce.