[Prevalance of overweight and obesity among professional bus drivers in Mexico].
OBJECTIVE
Identify the prevalence of overweight and obesity among professional bus drivers working in the federal public transport system (BDPTS) examined at the Transport Ministry (TM) in Mexico City.


METHODS
Data from 4804 men, who attended the TM for their medical evaluation needed to obtain a driver's license were included in the study. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated for each subject. A linear regression model was constructed to compare BMI of those already working as bus drivers and subjects applying for license expedition (controlling for age).


RESULTS
Mean age, weight and height was: 35.7 years-old (+/- 9.3), 78.4 kg (+/- 11.1), 167.3 cm (+/- 5.5), respectively. 10.2% of subjects displayed short stature (< or =160 cm). In the BDPTS, among the 20-29 age range, the prevalence of overweight and obesity was 52.7% and 22.5%, respectively; the age group with the highest prevalence of obesity (33.4%) was the 40-49 years-old.


CONCLUSIONS
We observed a high prevalence of overweight and obesity among bus drivers examined, with young adults also affected by these conditions. It seems that the prevalence of overweight found in our sample of professional bus drivers was higher than the one of the general Mexican population. Weight control programs are needed for this group of workers.
Aguilar-Zinser
José Valente
JV
Centro de Diagnóstico e Investigación de la Dirección General de Protección y Medicina Preventiva en el Transporte, Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes, México D.F., Mexico.
Irigoyen-Camacho
Maria Esther
ME
Ruiz-García-Rubio
Vanesa
V
Pérez-Ramírez
Mireya
M
Guzmán-Carranza
Sandra
S
Velázquez-Alva
María del Consuelo
Mdel C
Cervantes-Valencia
Luis Manuel
LM
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001334:Automobile Driving; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D050177:Overweight; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies