Obesity and associated type 2 diabetes and hypertension in factory workers of Bangladesh

BACKGROUND: Recent data suggest that the prevalence of obesity and its associate cardiometabolic risks are increasing in Bangladesh. Published data of obesity in Bangladeshi industry workers is scarce. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of general and central obesity in Bangladeshi factory workers and their associations with diabetes and hypertension. METHODS: A total of 791 male factory workers aged ≥20 years in capital Dhaka city of Bangladesh were investigated in a population-based cross-sectional survey. According to the International Association for the Study of Obesity and the International Obesity Task Force guidelines for Asian population, general obesity was defined as body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m(2), central obesity was defined as a waist circumference (WC) of ≥90 cm and waist hip ratio (WHR) of ≥0.90. Pearson’s correlation coefficient and logistic regression analysis were used to observe the association between anthropometric indices (BMI, WC and WHR) and cardiometabolic risk indicators (FBG, 2hBG, SBP and DBP). RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight (BMI 23–24.9 kg/m(2)) and general obesity (BMI ≥25 kg/m(2)) in this study population was 29.8 and 43.5 % respectively. Central obesity defined by WC and WHR was 35.3 and 78.3 % respectively. Both general and central obesity were found to be significantly associated with diabetes and hypertension in separate logistic regression analyses. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of general and central obesity in Bangladeshi factory workers was high, and it was associated with diabetes and hypertension.