Prevalence and Factors Associated with Obesity Among Healthcare Workers in An Urban Area in Lagos State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Obesity is a major concern affecting millions globally. Healthcare workers are particularly at risk from high stress levels and long working hours, often disrupting healthy lifestyle habits. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with obesity among healthcare workers in an urban area in Lagos State. Methods: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data, including weight and height, from 300 health workers selected using multistage sampling. Data was analyzed and presented as frequency tables. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with obesity with significance at p<0.05. Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity were 25.0% and 17.3% respectively. Factors associated with obesity among the respondents, included history of diabetes (AOR = 3.319, 95%CI = 1.133 – 9.719, p = 0.029), increased consumption of processed cereals (AOR = 6.998, 95% CI = 1.748 – 28.015, p = 0.006), and workplace stress (AOR = 2.142, 95%CI = 1.058 – 4.335, p = 0.034). Conclusion: Healthcare workers have high obesity rates, emphasizing the need for workplace interventions like better working hours and wellness programs tailored to their demanding schedules.