Obesity Awareness and its Relationship to Sociodemographic Characteristics of Filipino Adults: A Survey among Work-From-Home Employees in Metro Cebu, Philippines

Objective. Awareness and substantial understanding of obesity are essential components in its prevention and treatment. This study aimed to determine obesity awareness and its relationship to various sociodemographic characteristics among Filipino adults working from home (WFH). Methodology. This is a cross-sectional survey conducted in Metro Cebu, Philippines. Included were non-healthcare WFH professionals aged 18-64. Researcher-made Obesity Awareness Questionnaire (OAC-20) was used. Results. A total of 458 employees participated in the study, mean age was 30.33 years (SD=6.96), mostly female (71.40%) and majorly single (77.07%). Their mean obesity awareness score was 79.18% (SD=9.02). Age (p=0.198), BMI (p=0.397), work hours/day (p=0.101), and hours of physical activity/day (p=0.458) were not associated with obesity awareness. Similarly, male VS female (p=0.515), and single VS married respondents (p=0.629) did not differ significantly in terms of average scores. However, higher educational attainment (p=0.044) and higher socio-economic status (p=0.002) were associated with higher obesity awareness scores. Conclusion. The surveyed WFH adults are aware of the majority of the important concepts on obesity. Educational attainment and socio-economic status are significant determinants of their awareness.