ABSTRACT

Modern banking is synonymous with high-pressure environments, long working hours, and sedentary routines, which can quietly jeopardize employees' health. Bankers, in particular, face unique occupational health risks due to the demanding nature of their work and its associated lifestyle patterns (Kaur et al., 2024). Among these health risks, hypertension and obesity have emerged as significant and pressing concerns globally, affecting physical and mental well-being and increasing the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic disorders (Schauer et al., 2023). This study aims to assess the lifestyle of bankers and the prevalence of hypertension and obesity among bankers in Umuahia, Abia State. A cross- sectional survey involving 115 conveniently selected bankers from 10 commercial and microfinance banks in Umuahia was conducted using multi-stage sampling technique. Information on socio-economic and demographic characteristics, food consumption patterns, lifestyle factors such as alcohol intake, smoking and physical activity were obtained using a structured questionnaire converted to a Google Form.  Hypertension was assessed using blood pressure assessment tool (sphygmomanometer) and Obesity was assessed using Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist Hip Ratio (WHR). Data was analyzed using the statistical product service solution (SPSS) 20 version. Descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean and Standard deviation were also used to analyze data. Results showed that; Most of the respondents (66.1%) eat three meals a day and breakfast was commonly missed by 49.6%. Fruits and vegetables consumptions were poor with about 4.3% of the respondents consuming thrice a day, 40.0% once a day and a majority of 52.2% consuming fruits and vegetables sparingly. Time constraints were cited by 43.5% as the main reason for skipping meals. 16.5% of the respondents have a habitual snacking pattern, with cookies and pastries favored by 54.8%. A significant majority (93.0%) of respondents do not smoke and the main reasons for smoking included enjoyment (0.9%) and relaxation (50.2%). Respondents spent an average of 344.36 minutes (5.7 hours) sitting daily. The largest group of the respondents was classified as pre-hypertensive, accounting for 54.8%, Stage 1 hypertension affected 16.5% of participants, 0.9% were classified with Stage 2 hypertension and1.7% were in the severe Stage 3 category. The majority, 64 respondents (55.7%), fall into the normal weight category, 26.1% were overweight, 13.9% were obese and 3.5% were morbidly obese. Among females, 60.3% (41 individuals) fall into the high WHR category while all male participants (100%) had a low WHR. The study found a considerable prevalence of hypertension and obesity among participants, as assessed through both BMI and waist-hip ratio measurements. It was recommended that banks implement comprehensive wellness programs addressing meal consumption, physical activity, and lifestyle choices.