Prevalence and Socio-demographic Factors Associated with Overweight and Obesity among Healthcare Workers in Kisumu East Sub-County, Kenya

Abstract

e been reported to be having a high prevalence of overweight despite them being well informed of aetiology and risks of excessive body weight. However, the problem of overweight and obesity among Kenyan healthcare workers remain uninvestigated. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess prevalence and factors associated with overweight and obesity among the Kenyan healthcare workers in Kisumu East SubCounty. Materials and Methods: This was a cross sectional study conducted between April and August 2014 involving 165 respondents sampled from 9 health facilities. Demographic, socio-economic and lifestyle Data was collected using questionnaires and anthropometric measurements were taken using electronic weighing scale and height measuring bar. Results: Mean age was 37.1 years and prevalence of overweight and obesity was 58.8%. Increasing age was significantly associated with overweight and obesity OR (95% CI) = 7.3(2.0-25.98) p=0.002 while sex, marital status and vigorous physical activity were associated with overweight and obesity but were not independent predictors. Conclusions: This study found high prevalence of overweight and obesity among healthcare workers, which was about three times the estimated national prevalence. Higher order age group emerged as the most conspicuous predictors of overweight and/or obesity.