Highly Prevalent Metabolic Syndrome Linked to Sedentary Work and Obesity Among Corporate Employees in Kampala, Uganda

Research from Sub-Saharan Africa indicates a higher occurrence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) among employees than in the general population. However, there is a lack of such data, particularly from urban areas in Uganda. This study utilized the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria, with waist circumference cut-off points tailored for sub-Saharan African populations, to assess the prevalence of MetS and related risk factors among corporate employees in Kampala, Uganda. The WHO STEPwise NCD screening methodology was used to conduct a cross-sectional survey involving 408 adult employees from seven corporate companies in Kampala. The average age of the participants was 34 years (standard deviation [SD] ±8.87), with 52% being female. The prevalence of MetS was 28.4% (IDF). Most (75%) of respondents exhibited at least one metabolic irregularity, even without MetS. In principal component analysis (PCA) central obesity and low HDL-C accounted for 60.8% of the variance in the principal factors. Positive correlations were identified between MetS prevalence and factors such as marital status, obesity, sedentary work, and perceived risk of MetS. Participants with education beyond primary school had lower odds of developing MetS. Further research is suggested to investigate the influence of socio-cultural and workplace environmental factors on MetS in this population.