Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity among Employees of Selected Regional Line Agencies in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Philippines
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With the increasing trend of overnutrition, the implementation of appropriate nutrition action plan that is based on sound and extensive research data is being recommended. As part of developing an extensive health profile in Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Philippines, this study documented the prevalence of protein-energy malnutrition among the employees of 21 regional line agencies (RLAs) who are members of the Cordillera Regional Nutrition Committee (RNC). The study is a descriptive cross-sectional survey done among 395 permanent government employees. Data gathered were body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist-hip ratio (WHR). The employees were healthy, mostly non-pregnant females (65%) and selected through stratified random sampling. The mean BMI was 25.8 kg/m2 (males=26.5; females=25.4) indicating that the employees are generally overweight. The combined overweight and obesity prevalence was 56.7% with males registering a higher prevalence of 64% (n=79) compared to 52.7% (n=135) in females. The mean WC of 90.7cm for male and 83.7cm for female employees were within the borderline. WHR was 0.91 for males indicating absence of abdominal adiposity but 0.86 for females showing risk of increased metabolic complications. The overall prevalence of high WC was 26% (13.7% in the males and 32.8% in the females) while high WHR was 44% (17% males; 59% females). Exercise and length of service were correlated with BMI and WC. The high prevalence of overweight and obesity among the government workers puts them at risk of non- communicable chronic diseases. Appropriate health and nutrition policies and programs must be instituted at once.
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