Do lifestyle choices influence the development of overweight and obesity in the South African Air Force?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carina Haasbroek ◽  
Ronette Lategan-Potgieter ◽  
Cornel Van Rooyen ◽  
Marizeth Jordaan
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
South African ◽  
Air Force ◽  
Lifestyle Factors ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Meal Frequency ◽  
The South ◽  
Military Population ◽  
Lifestyle Choices ◽  
High Prevalence

Abstract Background: An increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity has been reported globally amongst the general public as well as military populations around the world. No information about the prevalence of overweight and obesity as well as the lifestyle choices that influence the development is available for the South African military population. The aim of this study was too determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity at Air Force Base Bloemspruit in Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa, as well as the dietary and lifestyle factors and physical activity which may play a role in the development thereof. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was performed on active military personnel, by taking anthropometric measurements and collecting data using a self-administered questionnaire. Results: A high prevalence of overweight (38.6%) and obesity (36.1%) was identified in the study population. No significant associations were detected between lifestyle factors or physical activity and body mass index (BMI). The majority of participants (59.6%) consumed three meals per day. Meal frequency did not differ between different BMI categories, and no associations were found between meal frequency and being overweight or obese. Inadequate intakes of fruit and vegetables were observed. Conclusion: A high prevalence of overweight and obesity was observed in this study, which calls for urgent intervention. No associations were, however found between dietary and lifestyle factors and the presence of overweight and/or obesity. Further investigation is required to identify the causes of overweight and obesity and effective ways to address this health challenge.

scholarly journals Body size, Mental health and Inequalities: The burden of obesity in South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
I Koupil ◽  
J Mchiza ◽  
M Z Hossin ◽  
W Parker
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
South African ◽  
Ethnic Differences ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Healthy Weight ◽  
The South ◽  
South African Population ◽  
Socially Disadvantaged ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Prevalence Of Obesity

Abstract Background Given the substantial burden of obesity in South Africa, it is important to understand how specific aspects of socioeconomic position influence the risk of unhealthy weight in different gender or ethnic groups. Methods We investigated body mass index distributions among subjects aged 15+ years from the South African National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Determinants of underweight, overweight and obesity were studied in 1655 (73%) men and 3104 (74%) women who had data available on social and mental health characteristics. Logistic and multinomial regressions were used to study associations with weight categories. Results Less than half of the subjects had healthy weight, 22% were overweight and 29% were obese. The proportion of healthy weight decreased and the risk of obesity increased with age up to 65 years. African women had a particularly high risk of overweight and obesity compared to men (age adjusted OR 4.65, 95% CI 3.94-5.50). The effect of gender was smaller in non-Africans (age adjusted OR 3.02, 95% CI 2.41-3.79; test for statistical interaction p = 0.004). Employment and higher education were associated with higher risk of overweight and obesity and a lower risk of underweight. Married subjects were at a higher risk of overweight and obesity. In men, higher income was associated with overweight and obesity. We found weak evidence of poor mental health being associated with unhealthy BMI. Conclusions There are social gradients and gender and ethnic differences in how underweight, overweight and obesity are distributed in the South African population. A high prevalence of obesity among women and positive associations of education, employment and income with overweight and obesity call for investments into health literacy. Action is also needed to prevent undernutrition among socially disadvantaged groups, and men in particular. Key messages There are strong social gradients and important gender and ethnic differences in how underweight, overweight and obesity are distributed in the South African population. High prevalence of obesity in women and positive associations of socioeconomic position with obesity indicate poor health literacy. Undernutrition needs to be reduced among socially disadvantaged.

scholarly journals The physical activity and health status of two generations of Black South African professional women

2011 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheryl M. Walter ◽  
Rosa Du Randt ◽  
Daniel J.L. Venter
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Black Women ◽  
South African ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Professional Women ◽  
Female Population ◽  
Two Generations ◽  
Health Promoting

Increased health risks associated with physical inactivity in the Black population have been reported in recent years. Black women, suffering the highest levels of inactivity, overweight and obesity, are at greatest risk of developing chronic diseases of lifestyle. This explorativedescriptive study investigated the physical activity patterns and health status of two generations of Black professional women, reflecting pre-democracy and post-democracy age groups. Quantitative measures were used, including the ActiGraph GT1M accelerometer, the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire and the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile. Sample groups comprised teachers, nurses, social workers and public sector managers. Participants aged between 35 and 45 years were allocated to the older generation group (n = 111), whilst those aged between 18 and 21 years (students in the mentioned professional fields) were allocated to the younger generation group (n = 69). The results indicated that these women displayed lower levels of health-promoting behavioural practices than expected, significantly lower levels of physical activity and significantly higher levels of overweight and obesity than the South African norms. The observation that the younger group appeared to be replicating the patterns of the older women is a cause of concern. Greater compliance to health-promoting behaviours was expected in this group owing to participants’ professional involvement in health, education and social development fields. Wide-ranging initiatives are necessary to promote physical activity and health amongst the Black female population in South Africa.Opsomming Gedurende die afgelope jare het navorsing onder die Swart bevolking ʼn toename in gesondheidsrisiko’s wat met fisieke onaktiwiteit geassosieer is, getoon. Swart vroue, wat die hoogste vlakke van onaktiwiteit, oorgewig en obesiteit toon, blyk ook die grootste risiko te loop om leefstylverwante chroniese siektes te ontwikkel. Hierdie ondersoekendbeskrywende studie het die fisieke aktiwiteitspatrone en gesondheidstatus van twee generasies van Swart professionele vroue ondersoek. Die tweegenerasiesteekproef verteenwoordig voor- en na-demokrasie-ouderdomsgroepe. Kwantitatiewe meetinstrumente, naamlik die ActiGraph GT1M versnellingsmeter, Globale Fisieke Aktiwiteitsvraelys en die Gesondheidsbevorderende Leefstylprofiel is gebruik. Die steekproef het onderwysers, verpleegkundiges, maatskaplike werkers en bestuurders in die openbare sektor ingesluit. Deelnemers tussen 35 en 45 jaar is aan die ouergenerasie-toetsgroep toegewys (n = 111), terwyl dié tussen 18 en 21 jaar (studente in bogenoemde studierigtings) aan die jongergenerasietoetsgroep toegewys is (n = 69). Die resultate het gewys dat die Swart professionele vroue laer as verwagte gesondheidsbevorderende gedrag, betekenisvol laer vlakke van fisieke aktiwiteit en betekenisvol hoër vlakke van oorgewig en obesiteit toon as die Suid-Afrikaanse norme. Die waarneming dat die jonger groep dieselfde gedragspatrone as die ouer vroue getoon het, is ʼn bron van kommer. ʼn Groter nakoming van gesondheidsbevorderende gedrag is onder die jonger groep vroue verwag, aangesien hulle hul opleiding in die professionele sektor van gesondheid, onderwys en maatskaplike werk ontvang. ʼn Holistiese benadering is nodig om fisieke aktiwiteit en gesondheid onder Swart Suid-Afrikaanse vrouens te bevorder.

scholarly journals Health benefits of physical activity with special reference to interaction with diet

2001 ◽  
Vol 4 (2b) ◽  
pp. 517-528 ◽  
Author(s):  
IM Vuori
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Metabolic Diseases ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Moderate Physical Activity ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Inadequate Nutrition ◽  
Dose Dependent ◽  
Reduced Risk

AbstractRegular physical activity causes numerous and substantial performance-improving And health-enhancing effects. Most of them are highly predictable, dose-dependent and generalizable to a wide range of population groups. Many of the biological effects of regular, moderate physical activity translate into substantially reduced risk of coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, hypertension, maturity onset diabetes, overweight and obesity, and osteoporosis. These effects also substantially reduce the risk of deterioration of functional capacity. In the genesis of these conditions, alack of physical activity and inadequate nutrition act synergistically and in part additively, and they operate largely through the same pathways. It is conceivable to suggest that the prevalence of, e.g, the above mentioned metabolic diseases is so high in Europe largely because of the high prevalence of sedentariness and inadequate nutrition. Thus, both physical activity and nutrition have to be given strong emphasis in policies, strategies and programmes that will be developed and implemented for improving the health of Europeans.

scholarly journals Psychological empowerment in the South African military: The generalisability of Menon's Scale

2007 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanjay T Menon ◽  
Barry Vos
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Factor Structure ◽  
Psychological Empowerment ◽  
The United States ◽  
Original Structure ◽  
Cultural Groups ◽  
The South ◽  
Military Population ◽  
The Military ◽  
Three Factor

The aim of this study was to investigate the factorial validity and internal consistency of the Menon Scale for Psychological Empowerment, developed in the United States and Canada and tested in Australia and Greece, in the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). The 2231 participants in the study represented the gender and racial distribution of the military population. The South African data initially yielded a two-factor structure. A forced three-factor structure rendered acceptable alpha coefficients, but did not resemble the theoretically expected factors. The forced factor analyses were repeated for Africans, Asians and Coloureds, and Whites separately. Results for the first two groups kept the original structure, whereas the factor structure for the white participants resembled the theoretically hypothesised factors. The forced three-factor structures rendered very high internal consistencies for the total scale, but one factor for both the African and the Asian and Coloured groups showed unsatisfactory reliability, suggesting a single underlying empowerment factor. This was confirmed by high correlations between subscales. Menon’s model seemingly fits the South African data slightly better for the white participants than for their non-white counterparts. The scale thus needs to be revised for the different cultural groups.

scholarly journals Pharmaceutical workers’ perceptions of physical activity and healthy eating: a qualitative study

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Philippe Jean-Luc Gradidge ◽  
Catherine E. Draper ◽  
Daleen Casteleijn ◽  
António Palmeira
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
South African ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Behaviour Modification ◽  
The Public ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Insufficient Physical Activity ◽  
Public Health Message ◽  
Promotion Strategies

Abstract Objective The public health message ‘move for health’ is relevant given the high prevalence of insufficient physical activity, particularly in African countries. The call for behaviour modification including limiting unhealthy dietary patterns in these settings is therefore critical; however, there is limited knowledge on the adoption of health promotion strategies in the workplace. This study aimed to investigate workers’ perceptions of physical activity and healthy eating. Results Five focus groups were conducted with 28 participants employed in a South African pharmaceutical manufacturing company to explore perceptions of physical activity and healthy eating. Results showed that two categories emerged: physical activity and unhealthy behaviours. Participants recognised the importance of obtaining sufficient physical activity in various domains, however believed that contemporary lifestyle limited opportunities for movement. Likewise, participants viewed healthy eating as unrealistic due to financial constraints. There was however agreement that total physical activity time could be increased during recreational pursuits outside of vocational time and may include intermittent walking for travel. These findings are important for workplace interventions and provide a more robust understanding of workers’ perceptions of physical activity and healthy eating.

scholarly journals Determinant of overweight and obesity among females’ adolescents in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, Cross-Sectional Study

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mona Faisal Al-Qahtani ◽  
Azhar Ibrahim Alghareeb ◽  
Zainab Sami Alramadan ◽  
Mohamed Saleh Ismail
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Lifestyle Factors ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Potato Chips ◽  
French Fries ◽  
Lifestyle Behaviors ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Significant Positive Association ◽  
Cross Sectional

Abstract Background: several lifestyle factors related to adolescent overweight and obesity have been well documented. The main objectives of this study were to explore the common lifestyle behaviors among female adolescents based on body BMI category and to examine the association between overweight/obesity and lifestyle factors among them. Methods: cross-sectional study was carried out on 598 participants, and Arab Teens Lifestyle Study (ATLS) questionnaire was used. Data related to lifestyle factors, e.g., physical activity, metabolic equivalent rate, sedentary behavior; dietary consumption; and anthropometrics including height, weight, and BMI were collected. To test the correlations between BMI and lifestyle factors, ANOVA and logistic regression were performed. Results: based on BMI, 20.6% and 19.4% of females suffer from overweight and obesity, respectively. Results indicated significant differences (P<0.05) in several female anthropometric factors and lifestyle behaviors based on BMI category. These factors comprised BMI, weight, consumption of French fries/potato chips, vegetables, fruits, and cake/donuts; and MET-min of swimming, and total physical activity (MET-min/week). Overweight/obesity was significantly associated with the consumption of cake/donuts (odds ratio [OR] for >5 days/weeks =2.261; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.361-3.757), French fries (OR for 3-4 days/weeks=1.936; 95% CI=.206-3.110) and fruit (OR for 3-4 days/weeks=1.669; 95% CI=1.032-2.697). Conclusion: a significant positive association between BMI category and factors such as eating French fries/potato chips and cakes/donuts were observed among adolescent Saudi females.

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