title: Long-Lasting Obesity Predicts Poor Work Ability at Midlife: A 15-Year Follow-Up of the Northern Finland 1966 Birth Cohort Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of adulthood obesity on work ability in early midlife during a 15-year follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population included men and women (n = 5470), born in northern Finland in 1966. Participants evaluated their current perceived work ability compared with their lifetime best at the age of 46. Participants' weight and height were measured at 31 years and self-reported at 46 years, and body mass indexes were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Obesity at both ages, and developing obesity between the ages of 31 and 46 increased the relative risk of poor work ability at 46 years among sexes, and among those in both low and high physically strenuous work.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Long-term obesity and developing obesity in mid-adulthood increase the risk of poor work ability. Thus, the promotion of healthy behaviors by policies, healthcare services, and at workplaces is important.
authors.affiliation: Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (Ms Nevanperä, Dr Seitsamo, Mr Remes, Ms Hopsu, Ms Husman, Dr Karppinen, Dr Laitinen), Helsinki; Faculty of Medicine (Dr Ala-Mursula, Dr Auvinen, Dr Karppinen), Center for Life Course Epidemiology and Systems Medicine, University of Oulu; Medical Research Center Oulu (Dr Järvelin), University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, Finland; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Dr Järvelin), MRC Health Protection Agency (HPE) Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, UK; Biocenter Oulu (Dr Järvelin), University of Oulu; and Unit of Primary Care (Drs Järvelin and Auvinen), Oulu University Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nevanperä
authors.forename: Leena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ala-Mursula
authors.forename: Jorma
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Seitsamo
authors.forename: Jouko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Remes
authors.forename: Juha
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Auvinen
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hopsu
authors.forename: Päivi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Husman
authors.forename: Jaro
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Karppinen
authors.forename: Marjo-Riitta
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Järvelin
authors.forename: Jaana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Laitinen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016272:Occupational Health; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D014938:Work Capacity Evaluation