Obesity status in primary health care workers in West Turkey

Ebru TURHAN; Mustafa TOZUN; Gokben Yasli; Zehra BAT; Semra IPER; Ayse CANDAN

Volume : VII, Issue : II, February - 2018

Obesity status in primary health care workers in West Turkey

Ebru Turhan, Mustafa Tozun, Gokben Yasli, Zehra Bat, Semra Iper, Ayse Candan

Abstract :

Aim: This study’s purpose was to evaluate of obesity status among primary health care workers West Turkey. Methods: The cross sectional study realized between from January 2012 to June 2012. In Izmir Public Health Directorate, a total of 3.013 health workers, including 1.134 Family Physicians (PH), 1114 Family Health Personnel (FHP) and 1.569 Community Health Centers (CHC) health workers participated in the study (95.1% of target population). Participants were asked to provide information about occupation, age, height, weight, waist and hip circumference. Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated. Qui square and student t test were used for statistical analyses. Statistical analyzes were performed with SPSS 11.5 statistical package program. p<0.05 was accepted for statistical significance. Results: 64.7% of health workers were females (n = 1.950). The average age was 40.71 ± 8.30 years. The average BMI was 25.56±4.13 kg/m². The males were higher average BMI than females (p<0.001). Total participants, 39.1% (n = 1.178) of the health professionals were overweight and 13.5% (n = 407) were obese. Overweight and obesity prevalence increased with age (p<0.001). The prevalence of overweight and obesity in physicians (46.4% and 18.5% respectively) was higher than that of midwives and nurses (32.2% and 9.0%, respectively) (p <0.001). The prevalence of abdominal obesity was 14.1% for all health care workers. This prevalence was higher in males than females (14.4% vs. 10.8%), (p <0.001). Conclusion: In this study, the prevalence of overweight and obesity was higher in males, 50 and over age group and physicians. It is recommended that proper nutritional habits be acquired in line with the requirements for health workers and various physical activity programs should be implemented.