title: Work participation among the morbidly obese seeking bariatric surgery: an exploratory study from Norway.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study is to assess the rate of work participation and disability pension, and identify predictors for sickness absence and disability pension, among morbidly obese individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data were collected from the Obesity Surgery Registry at Førde Central Hospital and consists of patients undergoing bariatric surgery between April 2001 and February 2013. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify predictors of sickness absence and disability pension.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sample consisted of 576 patients (63.9 % females) with a mean (range, SD) age of 41.7 (18-66, 10.6) and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 47.7 (32.5-80.8, 7.7). Patients working full- or part-time comprised 55.6 % of the sample and 29.7 % received a disability pension; only 46.4 % of the sample received an income from paid work without additional benefits. Having a BMI above 50, lower levels of education, and suffering from four or more comorbidities were significant predictors of sickness absence. Female gender, psychiatric disorders, lower levels of education, asthma, heart failure and suffering from four or more comorbidities were significant predictors of disability pension.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The proportion of the work participation and disability pension among this morbidly obese population is of substantial concern, as work participation has proven important for the health-related quality of life. This, combined with the fact that these patients are significantly less educated than the general population, can potentially have grave socioeconomic consequences. Increased knowledge of obesity development and the work history of these patients are needed to implement policies that ensure increased rates of work participation.
authors: Department of Research and Development, Haukeland University Hospital, Postbox 1400, 5021, Bergen, Norway, ulrikke.hernas@igs.uib.no.
authors: Ulrikke J V
authors: UJ
authors: Hernæs
authors: John R
authors: JR
authors: Andersen
authors: Ole F
authors: OF
authors: Norheim
authors: Villy
authors: V
authors: Våge
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D050110:Bariatric Surgery / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D010415:Pensions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012042:Registries; D055815:Young Adult