Total Flight Hours, Eating Fatty Foods Habits and Risk of Obesity Among Civil Pilots in Indonesia

摘要

Background:Obesity in pilots may be related to total flight hours and other risk factors. This study aimed to identify the relationship between total flight hours and other factors to obesity in civil pilots in Indonesia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was done with purposive sampling among pilots in Indonesia undergoing periodic medical check up in 14-24 May at Aviation Medical Center Jakarta. Data collected were several demographic and work characteristics, eating habits, exercise habits, height, and weight. Data were collected by interview and physical examination. Subjects were classified normal and obese according to the WHO standard for obesity. Analysis was carried out by Cox regression with constant time. Results:There were 612 pilots undergoing the periodic medical check up, aged 19-61 years. For this analysis were available 112 male subjects, consisting of 33 obese pilots and 79 with normal body weight. Total flight hours and eating fatty food habit were dominant risk factors for obesity. Pilots who had 2000-24361 total flight hours compared with who had 60-1999 hours had 3.8-fold risk to be obese [adjusted relative risk (RRa) = 3.83; P = 0.000]. Furthermore, compared with pilots who did not have eating fatty food habit, those who had eating fatty food habit had 2-fold risk to be obese pilot [RRa = 2.03; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.95-4.29; P = 0.064]. Conclusion: Total flight hours for 2000 or more and eating fatty foods habits increased the risk of obesity among male civilian pilot in Indonesia. (Health Science Indones 2013;2:55-8)