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Impact of Workplace Obesity Screening on Obesity Detection among Civil Servants in Nigeria

Abstract

Obesity has become an important public health concern among adults in Nigeria and is associated with increased risks of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, musculoskeletal disorders, and other chronic health conditions. Civil servants may be particularly vulnerable to overweight and obesity because of sedentary work patterns, prolonged sitting, limited physical activity, unhealthy dietary practices, occupational stress, and long working hours. Obesity may develop gradually and can remain undetected or unrecognized when individuals do not routinely assess their body weight and related health risks. Delayed identification of obesity may increase the likelihood of chronic disease development and reduce opportunities for early lifestyle intervention. Workplace obesity screening provides an opportunity to identify employees with overweight or obesity through routine workplace health assessments, employee wellness programmes, periodic medical examinations, and occupational health initiatives. Screening may involve assessment of body mass index, waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, and other appropriate anthropometric indicators. Early detection can facilitate nutritional counselling, physical activity promotion, weight-management interventions, and referral for further medical assessment where necessary. However, limited workplace wellness programmes, inadequate screening equipment, shortage of trained health personnel, low employee participation, poor awareness, and concerns about privacy may limit the effectiveness of workplace obesity screening in Nigeria. Against this background, this study investigates the impact of workplace obesity screening on obesity detection among civil servants in Nigeria. The study will be anchored on the Health Belief Model, Social Ecological Model, and Occupational Health Theory. The Health Belief Model explains how civil servants' perceptions of susceptibility to obesity, perceived severity, perceived benefits of screening, perceived barriers, and cues to action may influence participation in workplace obesity screening. The Social Ecological Model emphasizes the influence of individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, and environmental factors on obesity-related behaviours and access to preventive health services. Occupational Health Theory emphasizes the promotion and protection of workers' physical and psychological well-being through preventive health measures and healthy workplace environments. Collectively, these theoretical perspectives provide a suitable framework for explaining how workplace obesity screening may influence obesity detection among civil servants in Nigeria. The study will adopt a quantitative cross-sectional analytical or quasi-experimental research design. The study population will comprise civil servants working in selected federal, state, and local government ministries, departments, and agencies across Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique will be used to select states, government institutions, departments, and eligible civil servants. Workplace obesity screening will be measured using indicators such as availability of workplace obesity screening programmes, screening coverage, frequency of anthropometric assessments, measurement of body mass index, waist circumference assessment, waist-to-height ratio where applicable, availability of trained healthcare personnel, screening equipment, nutrition and physical activity education, employee wellness activities, and referral arrangements. Obesity detection will be assessed using indicators such as body mass index classification, identification of overweight and obesity, central obesity based on appropriate anthropometric measures, newly identified cases, severity or category of obesity, referral for further health assessment, and linkage to appropriate weight-management or healthcare services. Data will be collected using structured questionnaires, workplace screening records, occupational health records, anthropometric assessment forms, employee wellness records, referral registers, and relevant organizational documents. Descriptive statistics will be used to summarize participants' characteristics, screening coverage, anthropometric findings, and patterns of obesity detection. Inferential statistical techniques, including chi-square tests, correlation analysis, and logistic or multiple regression analysis, will be used to determine the impact of workplace obesity screening on obesity detection. Where appropriate, obesity detection rates before and after implementation of workplace screening programmes may be compared to determine changes associated with the intervention. Diagnostic tests will also be conducted to assess the reliability, validity, and robustness of the findings. The study is expected to find that workplace obesity screening has a significant positive impact on obesity detection among civil servants in Nigeria. Civil servants who participate in workplace obesity screening are expected to have a higher likelihood of having previously unrecognized overweight, obesity, or central obesity identified than employees without access to routine workplace screening. Regular anthropometric assessment may facilitate early recognition of unhealthy weight patterns and provide opportunities for nutritional counselling, physical activity promotion, weight-management programmes, behavioural interventions, and appropriate medical assessment. Conducting obesity screening within the workplace may reduce time and accessibility barriers associated with seeking preventive healthcare outside working hours and may encourage employees to become more aware of their weight-related health risks. Workplace screening may also support the development of healthier workplace environments through wellness programmes and health promotion activities. Conversely, inadequate screening coverage, limited workplace wellness resources, shortage of trained personnel, low employee participation, concerns about privacy, and inadequate follow-up services may reduce the effectiveness of workplace obesity screening. The study therefore expects accessible and well-organized workplace obesity screening to contribute significantly to improved detection and early management of obesity among civil servants in Nigeria. The study is expected to contribute to the literature on workplace obesity screening, obesity detection, civil servant health, occupational health, employee wellness, weight management, non-communicable disease prevention, workplace health promotion, preventive healthcare, and public health in Nigeria. The findings will provide useful information to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, federal and state civil service authorities, government ministries and agencies, occupational health practitioners, healthcare providers, human resource managers, employee wellness programmes, development partners, and policymakers regarding strategies for improving healthy weight management among civil servants. The study will also provide evidence-based recommendations for expanding workplace obesity screening programmes, improving access to regular anthropometric assessments, strengthening nutrition and physical activity education, increasing availability of trained healthcare personnel and screening equipment, promoting healthier workplace environments, strengthening referral and follow-up systems, protecting employee privacy, and integrating obesity screening into comprehensive workplace wellness and occupational health programmes across Nigeria.

Keywords: Workplace obesity screening, obesity detection, civil servants, overweight, obesity, body mass index, anthropometric assessment, employee wellness, occupational health, workplace health promotion, Nigeria, public health.