The impact of body mass index on short-term disability in the workplace.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to assess the association between body mass index and short-term disability in a working "white collar" population.


METHODS
The authors collected cross-sectional data from 19,061 health risk appraisals completed by employees of a large financial services corporation from 2000-2002. The self-reported information for demographics and job satisfaction was combined with personnel and detailed information from short-term disability events (STD) taken during the same time period.


RESULTS
After adjusting for multiple covariates, body mass index is an independent predictor for STD events. Body mass index categories of overweight and obese have odds ratios of 1.26 and 1.76 compared with normal weight (P < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
The improvement of employee health and wellness should be pursued by the employer in an effort to promote healthier weight among their workers. This in turn should reduce STD events that result in the loss of worker productivity and a major cost to companies.
Arena
Vincent C
VC
Department of Biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public Health, 130 DeSoto Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. arena@pitt.edu
Padiyar
Krishna R
KR
Burton
Wayne N
WN
Schwerha
Joseph J
JJ
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity; D016272:Occupational Health; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000379:methods; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*