Abstract
Most low- and middle-income countries, including Bangladesh, are currently undergoing epidemiologic and demographic transitions with an increasing burden of hypertension, diabetes, and overweight/obesity. Inadequate physical activity is a risk factor for these conditions and work-related activities contribute to most of the physical activities in Bangladesh. We investigated the association of the sedentary nature of occupation with hypertension, diabetes, and overweight/obesity in Bangladesh. If a person’s systolic/diastolic blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose concentration, and body mass index were ≥130/80 mmHg, ≥7 mmol/l, and ≥23 kg/m2, respectively, they were classified as hypertensive, diabetic, and overweight/obese. The nature of occupation/work was classified into three types: non-sedentary workers (NSW), sedentary workers (SW), and non-workers (NW). After describing the sample according to exposure and outcomes, we performed simple and multivariable logistic regression to investigate the association. Among 10900 participants (60.7% females, mean age: 40.0 years), about 43.2%, 13.2%, and 42.8% were NSW, SW, and NW, respectively. NSW, SW, NW, and overall people, respectively, had 6.7%, 14.5%, 11.7%, and 9.9% prevalence rates for diabetes; 18.0%, 32.9%, 28.3%, and 24.4% prevalence rates for overweight/obesity; and 18.0%, 32.9%, 38.3%, and 28.0% prevalence rate for hypertension. SW had higher odds of diabetes (AOR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.15–1.81), overweight/obesity (AOR: 1.83, 95% CI: 1.52–2.21), and hypertension (AOR: 1.47, 95% CI: 1.21–1.77) than NSW. NW had higher odds of diabetes (AOR: 1.43, 95% CI: 1.19–1.71) or hypertension (AOR: 1.37, 95% CI: 1.22–1.56) but not higher odds of overweight/obesity (AOR: 1.11, 95% CI: 0.98–1.27) than NSW. We found higher prevalence and odds of the studied conditions among SW than NSW. Workplace physical activity programs may improve the physical activity and health of SW.
Publisher
Public Library of Science (PLoS)