Physical activity, dietary quality and nutritional status of shopping arcade workers in Kampala central division, Uganda

Abstract

Background: Physical inactivity and unhealthy diet are major public health concerns and are primary risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as cardiovascular disease and cancers, which collectively account for majority (71.3%) of deaths worldwide. To curb the increasing burden of NCDs, it is essential to design and implement evidence￾based initiatives that incorporate minimising population exposure to modifiable NCD risk factors using context-based data, which is achievable through baseline data collection—the main aim of the current study. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 10 shopping arcades in Kampala Central Division. Physical activity was assessed using the GPAQ version 2, dietary diversity (proxy for dietary quality) using the Individual Dietary Diversity Score (IDDS) and anthropometric measurements—height, weight (used to derive BMI) and waist circumference for nutritional status. Metabolic equivalents (METs) were calculated to categorise participants as active (>600METs) or inactive (<600METs), BMI to categorized participants as underweight, normal, overweight or obese and the dietary diversity score to categorize good dietary diversity (≥4) or poor dietary diversity (≤4). Data were entered into STATA MP/13.0 software, summarised using descriptive statistics and variables were tested for association using Chi-square tests and correlation coefficient tests. A p-value of <0.05 was used to determine statistical significance. Results: Of the 126 participants, 68.3% were physically active (415±52 minutes/week), 64.3% had a good dietary diversity score (3.6±0.15), 48.41% were of normal weight (BMI=25.4±1.4 kgm-2 ), 50.79% had a normal waist circumference, 29.4% were overweight and 17.5% were obese. 87.3% consumed their meals outside of their homes, 77.78% consumed breakfast and 67.5% had consumed a fruit/vegetable. Physically inactive individuals were 1.4 times more likely to be overweight/obese. Mean sedentary time was 289.9 minutes. BMI and waist circumference were significantly associated (p=0.001). There was no significant association between physical activity, dietary diversity score, BMI and waist circumference. Conclusion: Most of the shopping arcade workers were physically active with a good dietary quality. However, many of the participants were obese/overweight with a waist circumference that increased their risk of disease.