title: The Impact of Obesity in the Workplace: a Review of Contributing Factors, Consequences and Potential Solutions.
abstract: This narrative review summarized findings from previous reviews and the most recently published studies, regarding the following: (1) the association between two occupational risk factors-shift work and sedentary work-and obesity, (2) the effects of obesity on workplace productivity and (3) the effectiveness of workplace interventions aimed at preventing or reducing obesity. Despite some inconsistencies in findings, there is convincing evidence that shift work increases the risk of obesity, while most studies did not show a significant association between sedentary work and obesity. Overweight and obesity were found to be associated with absenteeism, disability pension and overall work impairment, whilst evidence of their relationship with presenteeism, unemployment and early retirement was not consistent. Due to the vast heterogeneity in the types of workplace-based interventions to prevent or treat obesity, no sound conclusions can as yet be drawn about their overall effectiveness and best practice recommendations for their implementation.
authors.affiliation: Active Living & Public Health Group, Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living (ISEAL), Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia. drnipunsth@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Nipun
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shrestha
authors.affiliation: Active Living & Public Health Group, Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living (ISEAL), Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Zeljko
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Pedisic
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Neil-Sztramko
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation, South Karelia Social and Health Care District Eksote, Lappeenranta, Finland.
authors.forename: Katriina T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Kukkonen-Harjula
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Psychology &Educational Sciences, Faculty of Medicine & Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Veerle
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hermans
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy*; D016272:Occupational Health; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs / Q000379:methods*; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance / Q000502:physiology; D017132:Workplace
keywords: Absenteeism; Indirect costs; Obesity; Presenteeism; Sedentary work; Shift work; Work productivity