title: The association of diabetes with job absenteeism costs among obese and morbidly obese workers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the extent to which absenteeism costs associated with obesity and morbid obesity are traceable to diabetes, and whether obesity and morbid obesity remain predictors of absenteeism costs after controlling for diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey for 2000-2004 are examined. Outcomes are probability of missing work in the previous year and number of workdays missed. Predictors include diabetes, obesity and morbid obesity, age, education, occupation category, and race. Models are estimated by gender.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Probability of missing work in the past year, number of days missed, and absenteeism costs rise significantly with diabetes among the obese and morbidly obese, with costs higher for the morbidly obese, after controlling for diabetes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diabetes is strongly predictive of absenteeism among obese and morbidly obese workers. Employer efforts to reduce absenteeism should include consideration of anti-obesity interventions and diabetes prevention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Policy Analysis and Management, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA. JHC38@cornell.edu
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cawley
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.forename: Kara
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Haas
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000150:complications / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012044:Regression Analysis; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology