title: The association between body mass index class, sickness absence, and presenteeism.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the relationship between body mass index class, presenteeism, and prospective registered sickness absence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected from 2983 Belgian workers. Presenteeism was assessed by a single question, evaluating the frequency of being at work, despite illness, during the preceding year. Sickness absence data were registered during 12 months' follow-up. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Body mass index class was positively and significantly associated with presenteeism (at least two occasions of working despite illness) in the male employees and was a significant predictor of high sickness absence (at least 10 sick leave days) in the female population. A final multivariate model demonstrated that these relations were only partly mediated by self-rated health.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study suggest a gender difference concerning absenteeism and presenteeism in overweight and obese employees.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. heidi.janssens@ugent.be
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Janssens
authors.forename: Els
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Clays
authors.forename: France
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kittel
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Bacquer
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Casini
authors.forename: Lutgart
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Braeckman
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000328:Adult; D001530:Belgium; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D050177:Overweight / Q000150:complications*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D018582:Sick Leave; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires