Body composition and obesity among hospital nurses in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: A cross-sectional study

Background Obesity and abnormal fat distribution among nurses are increasingly recognized, particularly those exposed to shift work and occupational stress. Body mass index (BMI) may underestimate adiposity-related risk in Asian populations. Objectives To determine the prevalence of obesity using body composition indicators and to examine demographic, occupational, and lifestyle-related factors associated with adiposity among hospital nurses at a major hospital in Vietnam. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 154 nurses at a tertiary hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Demographic, occupational, and lifestyle data were collected using structured questionnaires. Body composition was assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis (InBody 270). Obesity was defined as BMI ≥25 kg/m², elevated body fat percentage (BFP; >25% for men and >35% for women), and high visceral fat level (VFL ≥10). Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with adiposity indicators. Results Most (72%) of the sample were female. The prevalence of obesity was 35.7% by BMI criteria, 54.5% by elevated BFP, and 40.9% by high VFL, suggesting that BMI alone may underestimate adiposity-related risk in this population. Male nurses had significantly higher odds of BMI-defined obesity (OR = 6.77; 95% CI: 3.12–14.69) and elevated BFP (OR = 2.44; 95% CI: 1.15–5.16) compared with female nurses. Nurses aged 30–44 years had higher odds of elevated VFL than those aged <30 years (OR = 2.12; 95% CI: 1.02–4.39). Body fat percentage and trunk fat percentage differed significantly across age groups, whereas BMI did not. Conclusion Obesity and central adiposity were common among hospital nurses and were more frequently identified using body composition indicators than BMI alone. However, the findings should be interpreted with caution because important lifestyle- and circadian-related factors were not directly assessed. Further longitudinal studies incorporating dietary intake, sleep quality, and detailed shift-work characteristics are needed to better clarify determinants of adiposity among healthcare workers in Vietnam.