Rationale and cross-sectional study design of the Research on Obesity and type 2 Diabetes among African Migrants: the RODAM study
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2014
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BMJ Open
Abstract
ntroduction: Obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D) are
highly prevalent among African migrants compared
with European descent populations. The underlying
reasons still remain a puzzle. Gene–environmental
interaction is now seen as a potential plausible factor
contributing to the high prevalence of obesity and T2D,
but has not yet been investigated. The overall aim of
the Research on Obesity and Diabetes among African
Migrants (RODAM) project is to understand the
reasons for the high prevalence of obesity and T2D
among sub-Saharan Africans in diaspora by (1)
studying the complex interplay between environment
(eg, lifestyle), healthcare, biochemical and (epi)genetic
factors, and their relative contributions to the high
prevalence of obesity and T2D; (2) to identify specific
risk factors within these broad categories to guide
intervention programmes and (3) to provide a basic
knowledge for improving diagnosis and treatment.
Methods and analysis: RODAM is a multicentre
cross-sectional study among homogenous
sub Saharan African participants (ie, Ghanaians) aged
>25 years living in rural and urban Ghana, the
Netherlands, Germany and the UK (http://rod-am.eu/).
Standardised data on the main outcomes, genetic and
non-genetic factors are collected in all locations. The
aim is to recruit 6250 individuals comprising five
subgroups of 1250 individuals from each site. In
Ghana, Kumasi and Obuasi (urban stratum) and
villages in the Ashanti region (rural stratum) are served
as recruitment sites. In Europe, Ghanaian migrants are
selected through the municipality or Ghanaian
organisations registers.
Ethics and dissemination: Ethical approval has
been obtained in all sites. This paper gives an overview
of the rationale, conceptual framework and methods of
the study. The differences across locations will allow
us to gain insight into genetic and non-genetic factors
contributing to the occurrence of obesity and T2D and
will inform targeted intervention and prevention
programmes, and provide the basis for improving
Description
This article is published BMJ Open and is also available at (http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/
bmjopen-2014-004877).
Keywords
Citation
Agyemang C, Beune E, Meeks K, et al. Rationale and cross-sectional study design of the Research on Obesity and type 2 Diabetes among African Migrants: the RODAM study.