Introduction:

Taxi drivers are prone to a series of risk factors associated with multiple diseases, as a result of being subjected to unhealthy lifestyles.

Objective:

Estimate predictive factors of overweight and obesity in taxi drivers, according to socioeconomic variables and lifestyle dimensions.

Methodology:

Quantitative, observational, transversal, explanatory study, carried out in a universe of 131 male taxi drivers, who work in the city of Azogues-Ecuador, applying the Lifestyle Scale together with the measurement of weight and height of the participants to obtain body mass index. The statistical analysis used univariate (frequencies, trend and dispersion measures) and multivariate (binomial logistic regression) methods.

Results:

participants aged 35 to 42 years (45.8%), married (90.84%), drive more than 8 hours a day (72.5%), overweight or obese (83.2%), lead an overall unhealthy lifestyle of 86.3%. The logistic regression showed good model fit for the 3 variables included: food (OR = 1.53), interpersonal support (OR = 0.454) and daily driving hours (OR = 4.078).

Discussion:

Being a taxi driver is a health risk activity that can lead to overweight or obesity, conditions that can be predicted by lifestyle factors and the working conditions of this activity.