Prevalence of Obesity and Hypertension and Related Factors among Bank Employees in Zahedan, 2017

Abstract

Background and aims: Obesity and hypertension are the major threats to health in a sedentary lifestyle and stressful jobs. The bank employees have sedentary jobs with high mental stress. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of hypertension and obesity and related factors among bank employees in Zahedan, located in Sistan and Baluchistan province, Iran. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 350 employees aged 23 to 57 years were randomly selected out of 15 bank branches from December 2016 to February 2017. An information form including demographic data (i.e., age, education levels, experience years in the banking profession, and physical activity) was completed for each participant. Body mass index (BMI) was assessed for the determination of general obesity. In addition, waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were measured for the evaluation of abdominal obesity. Two recordings of blood pressure (BP) were obtained in a sitting position. Finally, a multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to examine the independent predictors of hypertension. Results: The prevalence of pre-hypertension and hypertension were 33.1% and 61.1%, respectively. Further, the rates of overweight and obesity were 49.1% and 10.3%, respectively. Furthermore, elevated WC and high WHtR were 20.9% and 59.4%, respectively. Based on the results, the prevalence of obesity and hypertension increased significantly by aging. Conclusion: In general, the results of the study showed that the prevalence of overweight and hypertension among bank employees was high compared to the general population. Thus, periodic screening is recommended for an early determination of hypertension.