CENTRAL OBESITY ANDASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG ADULTS WORKING IN PUBLIC OFFICE IN ARBA MINCH TOWN, GAMO ZONE, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA 2023

Abstract

Background: Obesity is a global public health concern that is now on the rise, especially in low and middle-income nations. These conditions have been associated with a wide range of chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and cancers. In Ethiopia, the literature regarding the burden of central obesity is scarce and has not been conducted in the study area yet. This study aimed to fill this gap by assessing magnitude of central obesity and its associated factors among office workers in public offices of Arba Minch town 2023. Methods: Institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among a sample of 423 working adults from June1to July14 2023 in public offices of Arba Minch town. Simple random sampling technique was used and data were collected by using interviewer-administered questionnaire by using ODK tool. Moreover, central obesity was measured based on Ethiopian optimal cut off for waist circumference measuremen. Data entry and cleaning was condacted by using EPI INFO version 7 and exported to SPSS version 20 for final analysis. Descriptive analysis like frequency and percent was computed using crosstabulation. Chi-square test was employed to check significant associations between independent variables with central obesity. Furthermore, each variable with a p-value less than 0.25 in the bivariate analysis was entered into multivariable logistic regression and p-value less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant with 95% Confidence interval in multivariable logistic regression analysis. Result: The overall prevalence of central obesity was 77.5%. Associated factors of central obesity were age 30 years and above [AOR=5.12, 95% CI (2.90-9.05)], being female [AOR=6.77, 95% CI (2.39, 19.21)], ≥5hour time sitting at work [AOR=11.11, 95% CI (4.35, 28.36)], inadequate total physical activity [AOR=14.91, 95% CI (5.31,41.84)], ≥2hour sedentary while watching computer video/ games or social media[AOR=6.8, 95% CI (2.46-18.78)] and two hour and more time spent sedentary during other leisure activities [AOR=10.69, 95% CI (3.92, 29.15)]. Conclusion; The findings of this study showed that the magnitude of central obesity was substantially high among office workers in Arba Minch town and being female, age≥32, inadequate total physical activity, Workers who spent ≥5hour time sitting at work, time spent ≥2hour sedentary while watching computer video/ games or social media and time spent ≥2hour sedentary during other leisure activities were associated with central obesity. Physical exercise and a healthy lifestyle should be promoted to minimize the observed problem