Prevalence of Obesity and its Related Lifestyle Pattern in Male Personnel of Jundi-Shapour University of Medical Sciences - 2005

Obesity and overweight are major underlying factors for many chronic diseases. Considering the increasing obesity among people with low levels of physical activity especially administrative personnel, assessing obesity prevalence and its relationship to lifestyle patterns in sedentary jobs plays a key role in finding appropriate solutions for this problem. All male personnel working in administrative posts at Jondi-Shapour University of Medical Sciences filled out questionnaires on some aspects of their lifestyles their anthropometric data were also obtained. Study variables were body mass index (BMI), body fat percent (BFP), physical activity patterns, smoking and drug usage. Body fat percentage was measured by the BIA method using on Omron BF-300 analyzer. Statistical data were analyzed by ANOVA, t-and Pearson coefficient tests using SPSS version 11.5. Prevalences of overweight and obesity among male personnel were 26 and 52 percent, respectively. Seventy-one percent reported no exercise in their daily activity. A significant reverse relationship was found between physical activity and BMI, BFP and waist circumference (r = -0.31, -0.32, - 0.34, respectively, P<0.001). Ninety-five percent used to go to work driving their own vehicles or using public transportation. There was a significant relationship between the ways they attend their work, BMI, and BFP. BMI and BFP were significantly higher among older subjects. No significant relationship was found between subjects’ BMI and their ethnicity, education levels, smoking habits, drinking tea and coffee, working period, having breakfast and drug usage. Considering the association between low physical activities and high BMI and BFP, it is suggested that university personnel should be made aware of their daily calorie intakes and need to arrange a regular plan for their physical activity.