Associated Factors of Overweight among Public Service Officials within the City of Porto-Novo in 2019

Abstract

Introduction: Globally, there is an increasing concern about obesity as a public health issue. It has emerged as one of the world's non-infectious pandemics. The aim of the present study was to determine the factors associated with overweight among public officials in the city of Porto-Novo, Benin, in 2019. Methods: This cross-sectional and analytical study was carried out from January to February 2019. It covered all public officials in 13 utilities chosen by simple random selection from the 26 in the city of Porto-Novo. Data collected by observation and administration of a questionnaire were analyzed using STATA 14 software. Overweight (overweight and obesity) was the dependent variable, defined as a body mass index greater than or equal to 25kg/m2. Associated factors were identified by bivariate and multivariate analysis, at a 5% threshold of significance. Results: A total of 230 officials were surveyed, with a male/female sex ratio of 1.55. Out of these, 45.65% were of normal weight and 3.94% lean; 28.26% were overweight and 22.15% obese (i.e., 13.48%, 5.65% and 3.04% moderate, severe and morbid obesity respectively). The prevalence of overweight was therefore 50.41%. Associated factors were gender, age and lunchtime. Conclusion: Notwithstanding the biological factors identified, efforts to combat overweight among public officials are essential. This will involve awareness-raising with a view to changing behavior on unidentified modifiable factors to which workers are exposed.