title: Prevalence of overweight and obesity among nurses in Scotland: A cross-sectional study using the Scottish Health Survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity represents a global pandemic. As the largest occupational group in international healthcare systems nurses are at the forefront of health promotion to address this pandemic. However, nurses own health behaviours are known to influence the extent to which they engage in health promotion and the public's confidence in advice offered. Estimating the prevalence of overweight and obesity among nurses is therefore important. However, to date, prevalence estimates have been based on non-representative samples and internationally no studies have compared prevalence of overweight and obesity among nurses to other healthcare professionals using representative data.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To estimate overweight and obesity prevalence among nurses in Scotland, and compare to other healthcare professionals and those working in non-heath related occupations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study using a nationally representative sample of five aggregated annual rounds (2008-2012) of the Scottish Health Survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Scotland.
  
  
  METHODS
  13,483 adults aged 17-65 indicating they had worked in the past 4 weeks, classified in four occupational groups: nurses (n=411), other healthcare professionals (n=320), unqualified care staff (n=685), and individuals employed in non-health related occupations (n=12,067).
  
  
  METHODS
  Prevalence of overweight and obesity defined as Body Mass Index≥25.0.
  
  
  METHODS
  Estimates of overweight and obesity prevalence in each occupational group were calculated with 95% confidence intervals (CI). A logistic regression model was then built to compare the odds of being overweight or obese with not being overweight or obese for nurses in comparison to the other occupational categories. Data were analysed using SAS 9.1.3.
  
  
  RESULTS
  69.1% (95% CI 64.6, 73.6) of Scottish nurses were overweight or obese. Prevalence of overweight and obesity was higher in nurses than other healthcare professionals (51.3%, CI 45.8, 56.7), unqualified care staff (68.5%, CI 65.0, 72.0) and those in non-health related occupations (68.9%, CI 68.1, 69.7). A logistic regression model adjusted for socio-demographic composition indicated that, compared to nurses, the odds of being overweight or obese was statistically significantly lower for other healthcare professionals (Odds Ratio [OR] 0.45, CI 0.33, 0.61) and those in non-health related occupations (OR 0.78, CI 0.62, 0.97).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevalence of overweight and obesity among Scottish nurses is worryingly high, and significantly higher than those in other healthcare professionals and non-health related occupations. High prevalence of overweight and obesity potentially harms nurses' own health and hampers the effectiveness of nurses' health promotion role. Interventions are therefore urgently required to address overweight and obesity among the Scottish nursing workforce.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Care, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, UK. Electronic address: r.kyle@napier.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Richard G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Kyle
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Care, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: Rosie A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Neall
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Care, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: Iain M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Atherton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: Health Surveys; Health promotion; Nurses; Obesity; Scotland; Workforce