7 Out Of 10 Nurses "Overweight Or Obese", According To Survey
Nearly 70% of Scottish nurses are overweight, according to a study.
The situation is potentially harmful to nurses' own health and can also hamper the effectiveness of their health promotion role'', researchers at Edinburgh Napier University said.
The study, to be published in the International Journal of Nursing Studies, found the prevalence of weight problems in nursing was significantly higher than among other healthcare professionals.
Researchers believe interventions are urgently required'' to address the issue.
The team analysed Scottish Health Survey responses from more than 13,000 people, including about 1,500 health workers and found that 69.1% of nurses were overweight or obese.
Among other healthcare professionals the level was 51.3% while for those in non-health related jobs the level was 68.9%.
Researchers said nurses' own health behaviours are known to influence the extent to which they engage in health promotion and the public's confidence in advice offered.
The study concluded: Prevalence of overweight and obesity among Scottish nurses is worryingly high and significantly higher than those in other healthcare professionals and non-health related occupations.
High prevalence of overweight and obesity potentially harms nurses' own health and hampers the effectiveness of nurses' health promotion role.
Interventions are, therefore, urgently required to address overweight and obesity among the Scottish nursing workforce.''