Prevalence and Factors Associated with Overweight/Obesity in Public Servants, Tigray, Ethiopia: The Case of Mekelle City

Abstract

Introduction: Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) remain the major causes of mortality. In Africa and sub-Saharan countries prevalence of NCDs is rising due to many reasons. About 80% of deaths due to NCDs are common in low and middle-income countries including Ethiopia. Overweight and obesity are leading risk factors for a number of chronic NCDs. Objective: The aim of this research was to estimate the magnitude and factors associated with overweight/obesity among public servants in Mekelle City, Tigray and Northern Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 1486 public servants from 20 public offices of Mekelle city. Stratified random sampling technique by age and sex were used to select study participants based on public employee registration records. Modified WHO-STEPS Survey Questionnaire, with some modifications to the local situation, was used to collect data regarding demographics, behavioural measurements, and past medical histories. Anthropometric measurements were taken to calculate their body mass index (BMI). Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions with 95% CI were used to test the association between the dependent and independent variables. Ethical approval was obtained from Mekelle University, College of Health Sciences, Ethiopia. Result: The magnitude of overweight and obesity among 1486 public servants was 364 (23.8%) and 53(3.5%), respectively. Adjusted multiple-variable logistic regression analysis found that being male (AOR= 0.739, 95% CI 0.575 - 0.951), past smoking history (AOR= 2.308, 95% CI: 1.335–3.991), eating vegetables once a week (AOR: 0.680, 95% CI: 0.482–0.960), eating meat 3 or 4 times/week (AOR= 1.639, 95% CI: 1.071–2.508). Eating meat 5 or 6 times/week is (AOR=2.164, 1.377–3.398). Conclusion: We found that overweight/obesity is a serious public health problem with a higher magnitude among public servants. Being a male, smoked in the past and inadequate vegetable intake was identified as risk factors. Health education packages focusing on diet and regular exercise should be provided to public servants to decrease the prevalence and effect of overweight/obesity.

Keywords: Overweight, obesity, public servants, Mekelle City, Northern Ethiopia

Cite this Article

Kahsay AB, Gebru HB, Maeruf H. Prevalence and factors associated with overweight/Obesity in public servants, Tigray, Ethiopia: The case of Mekelle city. Research & Reviews: Journal of Medical Science and Technology. 2018; 7(3):
39–46p.