TITLE:
Prevalence and Determinants of Obesity Among Healthcare Workers in a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Study
AUTHORS:
Felix Edoiseh Ehidiamhen, Ikenna Chijindu Nwigwe, Ndidiamaka Anastasia Inyima, Andrew Isimenmen Okoawoh, Wisdom Chizubem Isaac, Olushola Olakunle Jegede, Stanley Emeka Ogbata, Bruno Basil
KEYWORDS:
Obesity, Healthcare Workers, Hospital, Ebonyi, Nigeria
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Pathology,
Vol.15 No.1,
January
26,
2025
ABSTRACT: Background: Obesity is a chronic complex disease defined by excessive fat deposits that can impair health. Obesity occurs as a result of an imbalance in diet (energy intake) and physical activity (energy expended), multifactorial diseases due to obesogenic environment (availability of convenience food, media influence, etc.), psycho-social factors (social support systems, cultural/environmental influence, etc.) and genetic variants. Other causes are a subgroup of etiological factors (medications, diseases, immobilization, iatrogenic procedures, monogenic disease/genetic syndrome). Obesity is measured clinically by several common tools apart from body mass index (BMI), such as waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio, and neck circumference. WC and WHR are common tools for measuring central obesity while BMI measures generalized obesity. Aims: The goal of this study is to assess the prevalence of obesity amongst health workers of David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital, Uburu, Ebonyi state, Southeast Nigeria and to note the prevailing factors. A reliable estimate of the prevalence of obesity among health workers will contribute to the statistics needed to sway policymakers in the country to take urgent and substantial action on the increasing prevalence of obesity, especially in the healthcare industry. Methodology: The study was carried out between May 2024 and June 2024 at the David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital situated in Uburu, Ohaozara Local government area of Ebonyi state, Southeast Nigeria. The questionnaire was designed using the Finnish diabetic risk score (FINDRISC). It contained basic comprehending questions on age, gender, exposure to high blood pressure medication, and anthropometric measurement amongst others. Weight was taken with a portable weighing scale and height, with a stadiometer. Both were taken with shoes and headgear removed. The BMI was calculated using the weight (kg) divided by the square of the height (m2). Result: Generally, the prevalence of obesity (>30 kg/m2) in this study was low 17.6% (38), Overweight (BMI 25 - 30), 38.9%, (84) healthy Weight, (BMI 18.5 - 24.9), 43.5% (94). The study revealed that a family history of diabetes was significantly related to higher BMI, with participants more likely to be overweight or obese (p = 0.00030). Similarly, participants with a personal history of diabetes were predominantly in the obese category (p = 0.00038). Waist circumference also showed a strong association with BMI, as larger waist measurements were more common among obese individuals (p = 9.2 × 10−8). In contrast, the analysis found no significant relationships between BMI and age, gender, high blood pressure, or exercise habits. Conclusion: The socio-demographic determinants of obesity in this study were gender, age