Patterns of physical activity and anthropometric indices among doctors in public health sector in Lagos State, Nigeria

Background: Research has reported low levels of physical activity among healthcare personnel despite the importance of diet and exercise as keys to maintaining health.Objective: This study determined the practice of physical activity among doctors and correlated the patterns of physical activity to the body mass indices and waist-hip ratios.Method: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study of405 medical doctors employed in the public health sector of Lagos State, selected using a multistage sampling and interviewed using an adapted International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Anthropometric measurements were taken to determine the body mass indices (BMI) and waist-hip ratios (WHR). Data was analysed with Epi-info 2007 version (7.0.9.7). Chi-square test was used to test association sat p-value <0.05.Results: Respondents had a mean age of 35.3 + 5.3 years, were largely male (65.8%)and (61.7%) had postgraduate training. Over 80% of doctors spent 8 or less hours a week at work, and 51.4% reported that the job-related activity most frequently done was stair-climbing, walking, jogging or aerobics. Two-thirds(68.2%) reportedly walked over 10 minutesdaily,4.5%reportedno moderate physical activity as a daily habit, 71.4% were overweight or obeseand were in the risk category for WHR and BMI(P<0.0001).Conclusion: Majority of the respondents were physically inactive and higher levels of physical activity were associated with lower BMI and WHR.Doctors should find time to engage in more days of moderate physical exercise as recommended.Key words: Physical activity, doctors, body mass indices, waist circumference and waist-hip ratio