Actual prevalence of obesity and its correlation with medical and social factors among the employed population in the Saratov region

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a common, multifactorial disease that significantly contributes to other chronic noncommunicable diseases, which are the leading causes of premature mortality worldwide. The observed increase in the prevalence of obesity is attributable to a wide range of behavioral, medical, social, and biological factors.

AIM: To assess of the actual prevalence of obesity among the employed population in the Saratov region and its correlation with medical and social factors.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the prevalence of obesity among 3,721 employees, evaluating a range of medical and social factors, including sex, age, education, place of residence, physical activity, and risk factors for metabolic syndrome. The R programming language was used for statistical analysis. A probit regression model was created to determine the probability of obesity based on the presence or absence of specific factors.

RESULTS: A univariate analysis demonstrated a correlation between obesity and a number of medical and social factors, including sex, age, education, labor intensity, physical activity, and the risk factors for metabolic syndrome. A regression analysis revealed a lower prevalence of obesity among males engaged in physically demanding work and among females with a university degree. A regression analysis demonstrated a positive correlation between obesity and the markers of cardiometabolic risk, including an above-normal waist circumference, hyperglycemia, low HDL, and hypertension, in the overall study population and male participants. In the female cohort, the analysis identified an above-normal waist circumference and hypertension as correlates of obesity. The notable finding was that triglyceride levels were not associated with obesity in any of the groups. The study had several limitations, including those related to region (the Saratov region), age (working-age population), and occupational status (employed population).

CONCLUSION: A representative sample of the employed population in the Saratov region was used to establish the obesity prevalence patterns among males and females in various age groups. Additionally, the study identified the major medical and social risk factors for obesity. It is essential to consider the probability of a high body fat percentage among individuals with normal body weight and those who are overweight to prevent and mitigate cardiometabolic risks. The findings of this study are potentially beneficial for the creation of preventative strategies integrated into employee wellness initiatives focused on maintaining the wellbeing, quality of life and professional longevity of the employed population.