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Background: Metabolic syndrome is an increasing public health concern worldwide, contributing to a high morbidity and mortality rate among adults. Understanding the role of lifestyle and occupational factors is critical in reducing its burden.
Objective: This study investigated the relationship between work stress, physical activity and dietary pattern on Metabolic syndrome (MetS) among workers at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)-Kumasi, Ghana.
Methodology: Using a cross-sectional design, data were collected from 94 participants (34 teaching, 60 non-teaching) through structured surveys and clinical measurements. Work stress was assessed using Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI) and Job Content (JCQ). Physical activity levels were recorded while dietary patterns were derived from food frequency questionnaires and analyzed using principal component analyses. MetS was classified based on the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria.
Key findings: Prevalence of MetS was 16% with abdominal obesity (52.1%) and blood pressure (31.9%), being the most common components. Non-teaching staff reported higher work stress (ERI = 50%, JCQ = 73.3%) compared to teaching staff (ERI=41.2%, JCQ=5.9%), while teaching staff showed lower physical activity (76.5%). Three dietary patterns were identified: the Indigenous Ghanaian, Westernized, and High Protein diet patterns. High protein consumption was significantly associated with high blood pressure (medium intake: OR = 4.06, p = 0.034; high intake: OR = 6.15, p = 0.006). However, no significant association was observed between work stress, dietary patterns, physical activity, and MetS.
Implications: The findings highlight the need for workplace-based interventions targeting stress management, nutrition education, and physical education promotion to reduce cardiometabolic risks among university staff. Integrating wellness programs into institutional policies could help curb the rising burden of non-communicable diseases in similar occupational settings.
Keywords: work stress, physical activity, diet, metabolic syndrome