title: Comparing work productivity in obesity and binge eating.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine productivity impairment in individuals with obesity and/or binge eating.
  
  
  METHODS
  Based on current weight and eating behavior, 117,272 employees who had completed a health risk appraisal and psychosocial functioning questionnaire were classified into one of four groups. Gender-stratified analyses compared groups on four measures: absenteeism, presenteeism, total work productivity impairment, and (non-work) activity impairment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall group differences were statistically significant for all measures with lowest impairment in non-obese men and women without binge eating (n = 34,090, n = 39,198), higher levels in individuals without binge eating (n = 15,570, n = 16,625), yet higher levels in non-obese men and women with binge eating (n = 1,381, n = 2,674), and highest levels in obese men and women with binge eating (Group 4, n = 2,739, n = 4,176).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Health initiatives for obese employees should include screening and interventions for employees with binge eating.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT 06459, USA. rstriegel@wesleyan.edu
authors.forename: Ruth H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Striegel
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bedrosian
authors.forename: Chun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D056912:Binge-Eating Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000503:physiopathology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004526:Efficiency / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012917:Social Adjustment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult