RESUMEN
The prevalence of obesity and its associated health .problems have increased sharply in the past 2 decades particularly in developing countries. Lifestyle interventions include exercise, dietary change, behavior therapy, or some combination of these components. To describe the problem of obesity and its contributing factors among workers at El-Minia University and to explore whether the three modalities of life style intervention used with obese workers differ in their efficacy to improve outcome measures. An interventional study in which 480 workers from El-Minia University were participated. Data were collected by a special designed detailed questionnaire. Weight, height, waist and hip circumferences were measured; vital signs and blood examination for sugar and lipid profile were undertaken. Three types of life styles interventions were done to the obese: dietary modification, exercise promotion, and combination of dietary and exercise intervention. Post-intervention questionnaire, anthropometry and other outcome indicators were measured. More than two thirds [68.2%] of the participants were obese or at risk of obesity [overweight]. Obesity was nearly twice more common in females than males [61.2 vs. 38.8%] and increased with increasing age. Central obesity determined according to waist circumference was found to be 32.8% and 38.4% among males and females respectively. About 41% of administrative workers and nearly 28% of teaching staff and 23% of manual workers were obese. Eating more than three regular meals and eating snacks have significant relation to the development of obesity. The most contributing risk factor of obesity is the sedentary type of work followed by obesity during the childhood, and eating unhealthy snacks. There is a statistical significant relation between parity and the development of obesity. Obese workers had significantly higher systolic blood pressure than non-obese. The cholesterol level decreased significantly and HDL increased significantly after the intervention, There is significant decrease in BMI in the three groups after the intervention, but the combination of diet and exercise intervention is better than diet intervention alone which in turn is better than exercise intervention alone. Overweight and obesity were highly prevalent among workers at El Minia University which pose them more at risk of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, as well as joint and back pain. There is an inverse association between physical activity and weight gain. There was sufficient evidence to suggest that dietary plus exercise intervention is the best method to combat obesity and to improve outcome measures