DOI: 10.11648/j.ejpm.20261404.13 ISSN: 2330-8230

Magnitude of Central Obesity and Its Associated Factors among Civil Servants in West Gojjam Zone District Government Offices, Northwest Ethiopia

Haimanot Degu, Abraham Degu, Agumas Degu
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Central obesity is defined as its excessive accumulation of visceral fat around the abdomen. It has become a significant public health concern and a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in developing countries like Ethiopia. The study fills the knowledge gap and detects central obesity in civil servants in the West Gojjame zone office workers. Objective: To assess the magnitude of central obesity and its associated factors among civil servants in West Gojjam Zonal government office, North West Ethiopia, 2024. Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 567 civil servants in the West Gojjam Zone government office from August 7 to September 1, 2024. Study participants were selected using a simple random sampling technique, and data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a pretested structured questionnaire. The collected data were entered into Epi-Data version 3.1 and then exported to Stata version 17 for analysis. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with central obesity. Variables with a p-value of ≤ 0.25 in the bivariable binary logistic regression analysis were included in the multivariable binary logistic regression analysis. The odds ratio with a 95% Confidence Interval (CI) was calculated to assess the strength of the association. Results: The prevalence of central obesity among civil servants was 27.8% (95% CI: 24.1, 31.8). Factors positively associated with central obesity included older age (AOR=4.5, 95% CI: 2.3, 8.8), being female (AOR=2.5, 95% CI: 1.5, 4.2), and having an income above the poverty line (AOR=18.4, 95% CI: 7.9, 42.9). In contrast, a borderline food consumption score (AOR=2.2, 95% CI: 1.1, 4.2) and physical inactivity (AOR=2.5, 95% CI: 1.4, 4.5) were negatively associated with central obesity. Conclusion and Recommendations : Central obesity is prevalent in the West Gojjam Zone government office, affecting one in two women and one in five men, with factors like Being a female, older age, richest monthly income, inadequate food consumption score and physical inactivity significantly associated with central obesity among civil servants. Workplace health programs and campaigns targeting women and older adults are crucial, along with government policies promoting physical activity. Office workers should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous weekly aerobic exercise.

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