Prevalence of obesity and its associated factors among healthcare workers in Malaysia: a scoping review

This scoping review sought to consolidate Malaysian research on excess body weight among healthcare workers by (i) mapping published prevalence estimates of overweight and obesity, and (ii) describing reported associated risk factors within four domains: sociodemographic and occupational, behavioural, psychosocial, and anthropometric. PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (WoS) were searched for records published between January 2000 and July 2025. Empirical reports and completed systematic reviews that presented prevalence estimates or determinants of overweight or obesity among Malaysian healthcare workers were eligible. Eight studies met these criteria. Data on study setting, sample size, diagnostic thresholds for body mass index (BMI), prevalence, and effect sizes for risk factors were extracted and organised thematically. No meta-analysis was attempted because of methodological heterogeneity. Across eight studies, combined overweight plus obesity prevalence ranged from 21.0% to 55.9%, consistently exceeding the national adult averages. Nursing, support, and administrative staff recorded the highest levels; one screening study showed that 63.0% to 100.0% of these staff categories were above the healthy weight range. Individual aged 40 years and older, employment duration of at least five years, and nurse job title each increased the likelihood of obesity by roughly twofold. Low physical activity, meal skipping, sugared-drink intake and restrained eating style was reported in three studies, while depressive symptoms and short sleep was linked to higher weight. Two reports documented clustering of central adiposity with elevated blood pressure in younger nurses. Malaysian healthcare facilities were found to be as obesogenic workplaces, particularly for long-serving nursing, support, and administrative staff. Interventions should combine specific schedule reforms, healthy food access, movement-promoting design and integrated mental health support. These programmes should be evaluated using longitudinal metrics of body mass and cardiometabolic health. a) Overweight and obesity are recognised as a growing problem among healthcare workers worldwide, but Malaysian evidence is scattered across small, single-centre surveys that report widely differing prevalence figures and examine different risk factors. b) By collating eight Malaysian studies, this scoping review shows that 21.0% to 55.9% of healthcare workers are above a healthy weight, with risk almost twice as high in nurses, long-serving staff, and those reporting low physical activity, meal skipping or depressive symptoms. c) This synthesis identifies clear intervention targets, protected meal breaks, movement-promoting workspace design and integrated mental health support, and highlights the need for longitudinal surveillance and tailored staff wellness programmes to curb obesity within Malaysia’s healthcare system.