Nutritional Knowledge and Obesity Risk Among Female Civil Servants in Abeokuta, Ogun State

Obesity is increasingly recognised as a major nutrition-related problem among Nigerian women in formal employment, driven by sedentary lifestyles, energy-dense dietary patterns, and psychosocial stress. This study assesses nutritional knowledge and identifies obesity risk factors among female civil servants in Abeokuta North and Abeokuta South local government areas of Ogun State, South West Nigeria. Workplace environments that limit physical activity, combined with high consumption of fast foods and sugar-sweetened beverages, create conditions for excess weight accumulation among this population group. A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed, with 260 female civil servants aged 25 to 55 years randomly selected from six state ministries. A structured questionnaire assessed nutritional knowledge using validated items derived from published instruments. Dietary intake was evaluated using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Anthropometric indices including body mass index, waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio were measured using standardised procedures. Physical activity level was assessed using a self-reported activity questionnaire. Findings are expected to demonstrate an inverse relationship between nutrition knowledge and obesity indices, with positive energy balance and physical inactivity as primary risk factors. The study recommends workplace wellness programmes and nutrition education as components of non-communicable disease prevention in the formal sector. Keywords: nutritional knowledge, obesity, female civil servants, Abeokuta, body mass index.