Prevalence of obesity by occupation among male residents of South East Nigeria

Obesity, which was once considered a first-world disease, has become a global epidemic. It is now becoming more prevalent in undeveloped and developing nations. This present study assessed the prevalence and occupational predictors of obesity among males in rural and urban regions of south-eastern Nigeria. This crosssectional survey involved 240 males aged 18 to 60. Participants were grouped into eight groups depending on their occupation: students, hawkers, artisans, public servants, traders, drivers, security personnel, and sports personnel. Weight and height were measured using a weighing scale and a stadiometer, and relevant biodata were collected using standardized questionnaires. All procedures in this study followed the ethical guidelines of the Helsinki Declaration on the use of human subjects. The prevalence of obesity in this present study was 11.3%. Stratification by occupation showed that security personnel (30%) and drivers (26.67%) had a higher prevalence of obesity compared to other professions. Expectedly, the result showed that the mean body mass index of drivers and security personnel were significantly higher (p<0.001) when compared to that of students. The incidence of male obesity may be linked to occupational choices. As seen in this study, participants with occupations that involved little physical activity appeared to be more affected. This study provides preliminary evidence on the potential involvement of occupation in the onset of male obesity.

Key Words: body mass index; obesity; occupation; physical activities; south-east Nigeria