Obesity is an important factor that contributes to chronic diseases such as osteoarthritis, diabetes, hypertension certain cancers, stroke and cardiovascular diseases. The increase in obesity has now become a global health burden; in low income countries the burden of obesity has doubled [22]. The prevalence of obesity among University of Venda academic staff was 37.29%, 36% were overweight and only 26% had a normal BMI; none of the academics interviewed were underweight. The prevalence of obesity found was similar to findings reported among academics in Pakistan (36.6%). At UNIVEN, the high prevalence of obesity in academics was associated with age, gender and fast food intake. This was significantly (p > 0.05) higher than global obesity (28.8%) and obesity prevalence in South African adults (28.10%) [23][24]. A lower level of obesity was expected in the academic staff at UNIVEN as educated persons are expected to be aware of the dangers of obesity. However, Universities elsewhere in the world have also reported relatively high levels of obesity (Table 2). However, Lebanon [16] and Turkey [15] reported a relatively low prevalence of obesity (Fig. 1). Several factors can contribute to high prevalence of obesity among academic staff (Table 2). Perhaps the nature of an academic’s work life is the reason. Stress and deadlines make it difficult for them to eat properly and the only food available at the cafeteria is fattening. The findings point to a significant association between fast food consumption and obesity. Academics spend a lot of time sitting at their desks, so exercise is limited during work hours as well. Knowledge may be in place, but attitude and practice also play a role towards the prevalence of obesity. For instance, long working long hours is regarded as a risk factor for obesity [25], employees who work long hours do not have a choice about the food that they eat, so they eat any food available, they sleep less and they seldom have enough time to exercise [26]. A study conducted among United State workers showed that a high prevalence of obesity was significantly associated with working more than 40 hours a week [27]. Academics have desk jobs that do not allow for energy expenditure, which lowers their level of fitness and increases the risk of obesity [28]. Attitude also plays a role, in developing countries, those who are obese are regarded as prosperous and living a good life [29]. A study conducted among academic staff in Usmanu Danfodiyo, Sokoto in Nigeria, showed that academics had a positive attitude towards obesity. However, they had poor knowledge about the dangers of obesity [11]. A study among teachers in the Western Cape in South Africa revealed that a high prevalence of obesity was associated with poor knowledge regarding nutrition and physical activity [30]. Studies in Brazil [11], Nigeria [12], Ghana [13] and South Sudan [17] showed that a high income was significantly associated with obesity [Table 2]. Perceptions about body image, also affected the prevalence of obesity among academic staff in Nigeria [12], [28], Lebanon [16] and Malaysia [31].
Worldwide there is an increase in junk food intake. Clinicians have recognized that junk food intake is linked to premature heart diseases. Saturated fat in junk food increases the risk of obesity, hyperlipidemia and diabetes [32]. Findings in the current study have indicated a significant association between obesity and fast food intake at UNIVEN (P = 0.011). Other studies also reported a significant association between fast food intake and obesity among academic staff in Saudi Arabia [8] and Pakistan [10] (Table 2). There was significant association between food pattern and obesity among academic staff in Iran [14] and south Sudan [17].
The results of the current study showed no significant association consumption of vegetable and fruits, with obesity. Other researchers also agreed with the findings in this study, studies among academic staff showed low intake of vegetables and fruits, but there was no significant association between vegetables and fruits intake with obesity in Ghana [13] and Pakistan [10]. In contrary, a study in Lebanon found a significant association between fruit and vegetable intake with obesity among academic staff [16].
More than half (55.93%) of the respondents indicated that they engage in regular exercise. Most of the classrooms at UNIVEN are located at ground floor and most of the offices are at also at ground floor. Offices in the School of Management and Environmental Science are on the first floor, while Natural Sciences offices are on the second floor. There are two buildings in the School of Mathematics, the old one only has staircase and a new one has both the staircase and a lift. Their offices are situated not far from the lecture theatres. The structure of UNIVEN lecture theatres and offices might have been a contributory factor to the high prevalence of obesity as it lowers the fitness levels of the academic staff, although the results showed no significant correlation between exercise and obesity at UNIVEN (P = 0.834). In contrast, studies published elsewhere found a significant association between exercise and obesity among academic staff in Saudi Arabia [8], Pakistan [10], Iran [14] and Turkey [15]. A very low participation in exercise was observed among teachers in Lebanon (77.5% in males and 58.03% in females) [16]. In general engaging in regular exercise is associated with health benefits regardless of whether people lose weight or not [33].
Results showed a significant association between age and BMI (P = 0.008), especially between the age of 50–59. Literature also supports the finding that obesity increases with age among academic staff, especially between the age of 50–60 [33]. Similar conclusions were reached in South Africa [9], Pakistan [10], Brazil [11], Nigeria [12], Iran [14], Ghana [13], Malaysia [32], Lebanon [16] and South Sudan [17] (Table 2). In some countries, notably Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, there was no association between age and obesity among academic staff.
A significant association was also observed at UNIVEN between gender and obesity (0.001). Female academics had a higher prevalence of obesity (54.66%) than male (27.45%). This was also reported in several other studies [14, 19] (Table 2). A gender linked biological factor such as menopause, can also increase the risk of obesity. This may have been the reason for the higher obesity prevalence observed in female adults in Nigeria [33]. However, other studies have shown a higher prevalence of obesity in males than females South Sudan [27] and Canadians adults [34]. In the current study, 95% of the respondents were in the same racial group (black). However, a significant association between race and obesity was found in other studies [20] [35] and [24]. No significant association was found between marital status and obesity in UNIVEN academics. Other studies, in contrast, have reported a significant association between marital status and obesity among academic staff in Ghana (married) [13], Iran (Widow/widower) [14] and Turkey [15] (Table 2). Although other studies have found a significant relationship between obesity and alcohol intake Iran [14], Ghana [36] China [37], Nigeria [12]; this was not found at UNIVEN (P = 0.725).
Study limitations
The study was only conducted among UNIVEN academic staff, therefore the findings cannot be concluded for all staff members at UNIVEN. Questionnaire were self-administered there is a possibility of bias. In addition, people who are obese or even overweight are not always truthful about the amount of food they consume and the amount of exercise they do.