Gob3 and Indomie Trap Urban Bachelors in Poor Nutrition Cycle

By Kaakyire | Happy FM, Accra

Reporting on behalf of Nana Ama Twumwaa (PhD Candidate, MPhil, MSc, BSc)

A growing reliance on convenience foods such as Gob3, instant noodles (popularly known as Indomie), and fried rice among urban bachelors is raising public health concerns, according to nutrition and lifestyle analysis presented by Nana Ama Twumwaa, a PhD candidate and public health researcher.

Across urban communities including Osu, East Legon, and Adabraka, many young, single working men are increasingly turning away from traditional home-cooked meals in favour of quick roadside food options. This shift is largely attributed to long working hours, heavy traffic congestion, and changing urban lifestyles.

Nana Ama Twumwaa notes that while many of these men are advancing professionally, their dietary patterns are becoming increasingly unbalanced. Gob3—gari and beans—is commonly perceived as a healthy meal. However, the version frequently consumed by bachelors is often saturated with oil and paired with fried plantain, making it high in carbohydrates and unhealthy fats.

Instant noodles have also become a dominant evening meal choice. Their affordability and ease of preparation have made them popular among young men living alone. Health experts caution that diets high in processed flour and sodium, with minimal intake of vegetables and quality protein, increase the risk of hypertension, obesity, and other metabolic disorders.

According to the analysis, the issue extends beyond individual lifestyle choices. Urban pressures, including extended commuting times after long workdays, limit opportunities for meal preparation. Additionally, persistent cultural perceptions around cooking as a gendered role have left many young men without basic culinary skills, further affecting their nutritional wellbeing.

With lifestyle-related diseases on the rise in cities such as Accra, Kumasi, and Takoradi, Nana Ama Twumwaa is advocating for realistic and practical interventions rather than placing blame on individuals.

Recommended measures include weekend meal preparation, improved vegetable content in roadside meals, and basic culinary education for young men to support healthier eating habits within urban constraints.

The analysis warns that if current dietary patterns persist, the long-term health consequences could reduce workforce productivity and place additional strain on Ghana’s healthcare system.

Addressing nutrition among urban bachelors, it concludes, is no longer merely a personal lifestyle issue but a public health concern with broader national implications.