Ann Occup Environ Med.  2016 ;28(1):36. 10.1186/s40557-016-0110-7.

Long working hours and overweight and obesity in working adults

Affiliations
  • 1National cancer control Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang, South Korea.
  • 2Environmental Health Research Division, Environmental Health Research Department, National Institute of Environmental Research, Ministry of Environment, Incheon, South Korea.
  • 3Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea.
  • 4Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea.
  • 5Department of Biostatistics, Inha University Hospital and Center for Advanced Medical Education by BK21 project, College of Medicine, Inha University, Shinheung-dong 3ga, Chung-gu, Incheon, Korea.
  • 6Chronic Diseases Research Division, Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Seoul, South Korea.
  • 7Worker Health Protection Division, Occupational safety and health Bureau, Ministry of labor Government Complex III, Seoul, South Korea.

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Previous studies have identified a link between gender and the various risk factors associated with obesity. We examined obesity risk factors in working adults to identify the effects of differences in body mass index (BMI) and percentage body fat (PBF) between women and men.
METHODS
A total of 1,120 adults agreed to participate in the study. Data from 711 participants, including 411 women and 300 men, were analyzed. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the effects of risk factors on obesity and being overweight. In addition, the least-squares (LS) means of both BMI and PBF were estimated by analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) in a generalized linear model. 
RESULTS
Increases in BMI and PBF were significantly related to an age > 50 years and long working hours in women after compensating for confounding factors. Using the PBF criterion, the odds ratio (OR) of being overweight or obese in women > 50 years of age who worked for > 9 h a day was 3.9 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05-11.00). For BMI, women who were > 50 years of age and worked for > 9 h a day were 3.82 times (95% CI, 1.31-11.14) more likely to be overweight or obese than those who were < 50 years of age and worked for < 9 h a day.
CONCLUSION
Obesity in working adults was associated with > 50 years of age and long working hours in women. Further studies are needed to investigate the underlying mechanisms of this relationship and its potential implications for the prevention and management of excess weight and obesity.

Keyword

Keywords; Women; Long working hours; Age; Body mass index; Percentage body fat

MeSH Terms

Adipose Tissue
Adult*
Body Mass Index
Female
Humans
Logistic Models
Male
Obesity*
Odds Ratio
Overweight*
Risk Factors
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