Medical Journal of Mashhad university of Medical Sciences

Medical Journal of Mashhad university of Medical Sciences

Prevalence of overweight and obesity and its relationship with demographic characteristics in Mashhad Medical School staff: A cross-sectional study

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Veda Vakili 1
Lida Jarahi 1
Hamideh Ebrahimi Groee 1
Fatemeh Khabbaz 1
Hamidreza Batouei 1
Maryam Ansari Aval 1
Amir Hossein Kaheni 2
1 Community Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicin, Mashhad, Iran
2 Clinical Nutrition sciences Department, Varastegan Institue, Mashhad, Iran
10.22038/mjms.2025.85688.4907
Abstract
Introduction: Overweight and obesity are increasingly recognized as major public health challenges worldwide. This study examines the prevalence of overweight and obesity among the employees of the Faculty of Medicine at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in 2024.
Materials and Methods: In this research, 87 individuals, including 50 women and 37 men, participated voluntarily.
Results: The results indicated that 58.1% of participants were classified as overweight or obese, with a reported prevalence of abdominal obesity at 21.5%. Demographic analyses revealed no significant relationships between gender, education level, or type of employment and obesity status; however, a significant correlation was observed between age and body mass index (BMI).
Conclusion: These findings highlight serious public health concerns, as obesity is a risk factor for chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Given the long working hours and lack of physical activity, it is recommended that educational programs promoting healthy lifestyles and dietary behaviors be implemented in workplace settings. This study can serve as a basis for future research in this area and assist health policymakers in developing effective strategies to reduce obesity prevalence and improve public health.
Keywords
Obesity
Overweight
Employees
BMI
Medical Journal of Mashhad university of Medical Sciences
Volume 68, Issue 5
November and December 2025
Pages 1353-1360