Abstract:
Aims: Overweight and obesity are leading causes of preventable deaths globally and healthcare
workers should educate patients and the public about the danger of obesity. This is enhanced if
they have appropriate perception of their weight. We aimed to determine the relationship between
perceived body weight and body mass index among healthcare workers in a secondary healthcare
facility.
Study Design: Cross sectional study using stratified random sampling technique.
Place and Duration of Study: Vom Christian Hospital, a faith-based, secondary health facility in
Jos South, Plateau State, North Central Nigeria, in January 2015.
Methodology: Using a structured questionnaire, socio-demographic variables, risk factors foroverweight/obesity and participant’s self-perception of weight was obtained. Actual weight status
based on BMI (Kg/m2) was calculated.
Results: Only 30 (19.4%) perceived themselves to be overweight/obese, but 86 (55.5%) were
overweight/obese based on BMI. Considering self-perception as a screening test and actual BMI as
gold standard, the sensitivity was 89.4%, specificity 38.2%, positive predictive value 51.6%,
negative predictive value 82.9%, diagnostic accuracy 60.0%, likelihood ratio of a positive test 1.4,
likelihood ratio of a negative test 0.3 and diagnostic odds 5.2. Those who practiced for ≥10 years
(OR 3.15, CI 1.07 – 9.30) were more likely to perceive themselves to be overweight/obese; male
workers were less likely to have a perception of being overweight/obese (OR 0.26, CI 0.09 – 0.78;
and those who did some exercise were less likely to have a self-perception of being
overweight/obese (OR 0.31, CI 0.11 – 0.88). Staff who had practiced for ≥10 years were more likely
to be actually overweight/obese (OR 2.74, CI 1.14 – 6.60,) and male workers were less likely to be
overweight/obese (OR 0.45, CI 0.21 – 0.95).
Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of overweight and obesity, and staff were five times
more likely to be overweight compared to their weight self-perception.
