| Abstract | Healthcare workers, by virtue of their greater access to information, are expected to   have less risk of obesity,  hypertension, and other health outcomes often linked to  lifestyles. However, there is limited evidence on practices and status of personnel who   work in the healthcare setting about hypertension and overweight in Ghana.  The   current study tests the hypothesis that overweight and hypertension rates, as well as  related risk factors among staff and faculty of the College of Health Sciences (CHS),   University of Ghana, will be more positive than among the lay public. In June and   July 2009, a cross-sectional self-completed survey was administered to 141 male and   female faculty and staff of the College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, in   Accra. A representative sample was selected by proportionate random sampling from   all seven academic and research units of the CHS. Anthropometry and blood pressure  measurements were taken with  questionnaire  data  on  lifestyle, dietary history, and   socio-demographic  variables.  Overweight  and obesity were diagnosed as  BMI >25   and >30 kg/m  2  , respectively. Abdominal adiposity was estimated as waist hip ratio  >0.80 (females) or >0.95 (males). Hypertension was diagnosed as diastolic or systolic   blood pressure > 140 or 90 mm Hg, respectively. Mean age of respondents was 40.5 +  10.8 years; 43% were over-weight, including 13% obese. More than  one-third of   overweight respondents did not  report  an overweight body image.  Abdominal   adiposity  and hypertension rates were 25% and 34%, respectively.  Low rates of   regular physical activity (25%) and consumption of fruits and vegetables (40%) were   observed.  Overweight (OR=3.83; p<0.01) and central adiposity (OR=4.8; p<0.01)   were associated with significantly increased risk of hypertension. Being married was a  significant predictor of overweight (p<0.05), abdominal adiposity (p<0.05), and   hypertension (p<0.05). The study concludes that working in a healthcare environment   or being a health worker does not diminish your risk of overweight and hypertension.   It is,  therefore, recommended that interventions addressing overweight and   hypertension should place attention more on environmental modifications rather than   awareness creation
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