Characterizing dietary diversity among urban office workers in northern Ghana: a cross-sectional study

The nutrition transition in low- and middle-income countries is driving a surge in non-communicable diseases (NCDs), with urban populations being particularly affected. In Ghana, office workers represent a key demographic at risk due to sedentary lifestyles and changing food environments. We aimed to assess the dietary diversity and identify underlying dietary patterns of this group in the Tamale Metropolis.

We conducted a cross-sectional study among 216 office workers. Dietary intake was assessed using a two-day 24-hour recall. Dietary diversity was evaluated using the 9-point Individual Dietary Diversity Score (IDDS). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used on the nine food groups to derive dietary patterns.

The mean IDDS was 4.89 (SD 1.31), indicating medium dietary diversity. Only 33.8% of participants achieved high dietary diversity. PCA identified three dietary patterns: a "Higher-Diversity, Plant-Rich" pattern, a traditional "Animal-Source and Staples" pattern, and an "Accessory Animal Products" pattern. The diet was dominated by starchy staples (77.0%) and meat/fish (60.0%), with low consumption of fruits (43.0%) and dark green leafy vegetables (39.0%).

The diet of urban office workers in Northern Ghana is suboptimal, characterized by low diversity and specific dietary patterns that are high in energy-dense staples and low in protective foods. This dietary profile is a significant public health concern. Targeted interventions are urgently needed to improve dietary diversity and mitigate diet-related disease risk in this population.