Abstract

QUIJADA¹, Wilmary et al. Weight excess and socioeconomic variables in health workers in Caracas. Salud de los Trabajadores [online]. 2016, vol.24, n.2, pp.121-132. ISSN 1315-0138.

The development of obesity and overweight is influenced by several factors. The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between the frequency of overweight and obesity and various socioeconomic variables among health care workers from Caracas, Venezuela. A descriptive, retrospective study was conducted using a nonrandom sample of 337 workers seenat a local health center for preventive care. The mean age of the workers was 34.6 years, their mean weight was 69.11 Kg, their mean height was 1.6 m, and their mean body mass index (BMI) was26.66 Kg/m2. Among them, 36% had a normal BMI, 40.06% were overweight and 23.44% were obese. No significant difference in BMI was found between men and women. The group of 35 to 40-year-olds had the highest mean BMI (28.88 Kg/m2). The highest mean BMI was found among those who worked the night shift (27.84 Kg/m2), and the lowest mean BMI among those who worked the weekend shift (24.14 Kg/m2). The highest frequency of overweight was found among those who worked the morning shift (53,41%), and the highest frequency of obesity among those working the night shift (32.81%). Unskilled workers had a mean BMI of 31.36 kg/m2, and those who worked in the most senior positions had a mean BMI of 26.73 kg/m2. Overall, excess weight affected two-thirds of the study sample. There is a relation ship between socioeconomic factors and frequency of excess weight in the study population.

Keywords : excess weight; obesity; workers.

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