Farzaneh Montazerifar - Associate Professor, Pregnancy Health Research Center, Department of Nutrition, School of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
Mansour Karajibani - Associate Professor, Health Promotion Research Center, Department of Nutrition, School of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
Mazaher Abbasi - Medical Student, School of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
Ahmad Bolouri - Cardiology Department, School of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran

Background and aims: Obesity and hypertension are the major threats to health in a sedentary lifestyleand stressful jobs. The bank employees have sedentary jobs with high mental stress. The aim of thisstudy was to determine the prevalence of hypertension and obesity and related factors among bankemployees in Zahedan, located in Sistan and Baluchistan province, Iran.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, ۳۵۰ employees aged ۲۳ to ۵۷ years were randomly selectedout of ۱۵ bank branches from December ۲۰۱۶ to February ۲۰۱۷. An information form includingdemographic data (i.e., age, education levels, experience years in the banking profession, andphysical activity) was completed for each participant. Body mass index (BMI) was assessed for thedetermination of general obesity. In addition, waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-height ratio(WHtR) were measured for the evaluation of abdominal obesity. Two recordings of blood pressure(BP) were obtained in a sitting position. Finally, a multivariate logistic regression analysis was used toexamine the independent predictors of hypertension.Results: The prevalence of pre-hypertension and hypertension were ۳۳.۱% and ۶۱.۱%, respectively.Further, the rates of overweight and obesity were ۴۹.۱% and ۱۰.۳%, respectively. Furthermore, elevatedWC and high WHtR were ۲۰.۹% and ۵۹.۴%, respectively. Based on the results, the prevalence ofobesity and hypertension increased significantly by aging.Conclusion: In general, the results of the study showed that the prevalence of overweight andhypertension among bank employees was high compared to the general population. Thus, periodicscreening is recommended for an early determination of hypertension.

hypertension, Obesity, Bank employees