Obesity and Musculoskeletal Disorders among Public Sector Bank Employees of Mangaluru Region – A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Certain professions predispose individuals to obesity and musculoskeletal disorders. Banking is one such sector where working involves sitting for prolonged times along with exposure to physical and psychosocial risk factors. Very few studies have been conducted in India in public sector bank settings, concerning these chronic conditions. This study intends to encourage further research in these areas. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of obesity and MSDs. Its objectives were to determine the association of these conditions with socio-demographic characteristics and lifestyle factors. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 487 employees working in PSU banks of Mangaluru region. WHO STEPS and modified Nordic questionnaire were used for this study. The participants were measured for their height and weight, using a portable stature meter and a digital weighing scale respectively. Results: The aggregate prevalence of overweight and obesity was 65.5% (20.9% for overweight and 44.6% for obesity). The prevalence of musculoskeletal discomfort within the past 12 months was 57.3%. Most of the complaints were reported for the lower back (27.1%) and neck (26.9%). Conclusion: The aggregate prevalence of overweight/obesity and MSDs among the public sector bank employees of Mangaluru region was very high. Action needs to be taken at policy level. The cost of treating these chronic conditions can be very high. Risk factors need to be modified which will help to control the prevalence of obesity and MSDs.