Osei-Kwasi H. A. auteur aut IRD Jackson P. auteur aut IRD Akparibo R. auteur aut IRD Holdsworth Michelle auteur aut IRD Nicolaou M. auteur aut IRD Aikins A. D. auteur aut IRD Griffiths P. auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf reformatted digital access Aim This study assesses community readiness to prevent overweight/obesity among Ghanaian immigrants in Greater Manchester, England. Subject and method 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. 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. Results 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 workload, 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 thereafter focus on the socio-cultural factors. specialized Community readiness CRM Overweight obesity Ghanaians Immigrants UK ROYAUME UNI GHANA 054 108 102 [Early access] [15 p.] 2022 2198-1833 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010086499 10.1007/s10389-022-01777-1 2198-1833 [F B010086499] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010086499 https://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/exl-doc/pleins_textes/2023-01/010086499.pdf IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2023-01-11 2025-02-24 fdi:010086499 fre