title: Interaction of lifestyle and work ability index in blue collar workers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Early labor force exit is one of the major problems worldwide. The present study investigates the relationship between work ability and lifestyle.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted at a manufacturing plant in Tehran in 2012. All 851 male workers in this plant were included into the study and their work ability was assessed using the Work Ability Index (WAI). Based on the obtained scores, the participants were then classified into four work ability groups (poor, moderate, good, or excellent). Moreover, the participants' lifestyles were studied in three areas, including physical activity, cigarette smoking, and Body Mass Index (BMI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average work ability index score was 42.07, ranging from 7-48. Among the participants, 6.4% (43), 6.5% (44), 38.3% (259), and 48.8% (330) were in the groups with poor, moderate, good, and excellent work ability, respectively. The results of logistic regression analysis showed that there is a significant relationship between work ability and lifestyle (cigarette smoking, BMI, and physical activity) even after adjustment for confounding variables (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to the results of the present study, there might be a relationship between work ability and lifestyle (physical activity, BMI, cigarette smoking). Therefore, it is recommended to implement a lifestyle quality enhancement program to improve work ability in working environments.
authors.affiliation: . sabermohammadi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Saber
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mohammadi
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghaffari
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abdi
authors.forename: Baharak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bahadori
authors.forename: Elham
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mirzamohammadi
authors.forename: Mirsaeed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Attarchi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015444:Exercise; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009790:Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014937:Work / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014938:Work Capacity Evaluation