Setting – based prevalence and correlates of central obesity: findings from a cross-sectional study among formal sector employees in Dodoma City, Central Tanzania

Table 1 General characteristics of the study respondents (N = 392)

Respondents’ general characteristics	n	%
Sex
Male	254	64.2
Female	138	35.8
Age
≤ 30	102	26.0
31–40	152	38.8
41–50	93	23.7
≥ 51	45	11.5
Employment sector
Public	256	65.3
Private	136	34.7
Educational status
Non Bachelor degree	145	37.0
Bachelor Degree and higher	247	63.0
Type of occupation
Supportive staff^a	139	35.5
Professional/technical staff^b	184	46.9
Administrative staff^c	69	17.6
Monthly salary
< 400,000	103	26.3
400,000 –1,000,000	175	44.6
> 1,000,000	114	29.1
Means of transport to and from workplace
Walking/ bicycle	47	12.0
Motor vehicle	345	88.0
Source of meals at workplace
Food vendors	350	89.3
Homemade	42	10.7
Currently drinking alcohol
No	241	61.5
Yes	151	38.5
Currently smoking
No	386	98.5
Yes	6	1.5
Hypertension
No	352	89.2
Yes	40	10.2
Central obesity
No	228	58.2
Yes	164	41.2

^asupport office activities: secretary, driver, attendants etc
^bperform the office technical activities, engineer, teacher, accountant etc
^cperform lead administrative roles: legislators, managers, office supervisors, head of department etc

ISSN: 1471-2458