Prevalence and Associated Factors of Obesity among the Staff of the University Hospital Center of Owendo: Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: Obesity is a major determinant of morbidity and mortality related to non-communicable diseases, particularly cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers worldwide. Its progression is rapid, especially in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Healthcare professionals, although key actors in prevention, are not spared. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of obesity and identify its associated factors among the staff of the University Hospital Center of Owendo (Gabon). Methods: This was a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study conducted in March 2023 among the staff of CHUO. Agents aged 18 years and older, who had been working in the facility for at least six months, were included. Sociodemographic, professional, clinical, and biological data were collected. Obesity was defined by a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m². Logistic regression was used to identify independently associated factors, with a significance threshold set at p < 0.05. Results: Out of 800 staff working to CHUO, 257 (32.1%) participants with a mean age of 40.9 ± 9.7 years, including 69.6% women, were included. The prevalence of obesity was 38.5%, and that of abdominal obesity was 45.9%. Arterial hypertension was found in 34.6% of the subjects. In bivariate analysis, obesity was associated with female sex, hypertension, diabetes, and elevated blood pressure. In multivariate analysis, only female sex (OR = 2.2; 95% CI: [1.2 - 4.1]; p = 0.012) and elevated systolic blood pressure (OR = 1.35; 95% CI: [1.09 - 1.68]; p < 0.01) remained significantly associated. Conclusion: Obesity is very common among CHUO staff. It is significantly associated with female sex and elevated systolic blood pressure. These results highlight the need for targeted prevention strategies in the professional environment to reduce cardiovascular risk among healthcare workers.