Prevalence of Sedentary Lifestyle among Workers in Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation’s Institutes in Nairobi Metropolitan

Abstract

People who spend too much time being sedentary are more likely to develop musculoskeletal disorders and other non- communicable diseases (NCDs). This health risk is likely to increase with increasing sedentary office setting and lifestyle. In Kenya, the sedentary lifestyle is on the increase while its baseline data has not been documented appropriately. This study investigated prevalence of sedentary lifestyle among workers in seven selected institutes within Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO). The study concentrated on a population of 820 office and laboratory workers in seven KALRO institutes located in the Nairobi Metropolitan. The sample size (n= 96), was calculated using Daniel's formula for prevalence studies. A Cross-sectional survey was employed on respondents and subjective questionnaires administered. Waist to height ratio (WHtR) and waist circumference (WC) was measured using a stretch resistant tape in accordance with WHO, 2008 guidelines. The WHtR (> 0.5) revealed that prevalence of overweight and central obesity was high in females, (92.6%) than in males (88%) while (90.38%) was for combined gender. The WHtR increased with income, ( τb= 0.516, p=0.07) and had an influence on ailmements such as fatigue and muscle soreness after a days’s work (p=0.657). Factors influencing sedentary lifestyle most of which were outside the workplace setting were: use of motorized transport (73%) which increased with earnings and social economic status p<0.05 with no output for respondents earning less than kenya shillings 15,000; screen time (64.7%); reliance on house help for domestic chores (56.5%) and occupational (78.4%) with p>0.05 for sitting for office and laboratory workers. None of the sampled institutes had invested in ergonomic chairs or policies/programs for NCDs screening and management. The study concluded that there was a high prevalence of sedentary lifestyle among KALRO employees in the selected institutes resulting in overweight, central obesity and related ailments. These findings provide a basis for management in KALRO to encourage physical activity among its workers by intervening at individual, environmental and policy