title: Lost-time illness, injury and disability and its relationship with obesity in the workplace: A comprehensive literature review.
abstract: The objective of this study was to conduct a literature review examining predictors of lost-time injury, illness and disability (IID) in the workplace, with a focus on obesity as a predictor, and to evaluate the relationship between obesity and losttime IID. The study objective was also to analyze workplace disability prevention and interventions aimed at encouraging a healthy lifestyle among employees and reducing obesity and IID, as well as to identify research gaps. The search was conducted in several major online databases. Articles included in the review were published in English in peer-reviewed journals between January 2003 and December 2014, and were found to be of good quality and of relevance to the topic. Each article was critically reviewed for inclusion in this study. Studies that focused on lost-time IID in the workplace were reviewed and summarized. Workers in overweight and obese categories are shown to be at a higher risk of workplace IID, are more likely to suffer from lost-time IID, and experience a slower recovery compared to workers with a healthy body mass index (BMI) score. Lost-time IID is costly to an employer and an employee; therefore, weight reduction may financially benefit both - workers and companies. It was found that some companies have focused on developing interventions that aid reduction of weight and the practice of active lifestyle among their employees. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2016;29(5):749-766.
authors: Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada (Centre for Research in Occupational Safety and Health). bx_nowrouzi@laurentian.ca.
authors: Behdin
authors: B
authors: Nowrouzi
authors: Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada (Centre for Research in Occupational Safety and Health). BX_Gohar@laurentian.ca.
authors: Basem
authors: B
authors: Gohar
authors: McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine). behnam.nowrouzi-kia@medportal.ca.
authors: Behnam
authors: B
authors: Nowrouzi-Kia
authors: Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada (Faculty of Arts and Science). 12vm20@queensu.ca.
authors: Victoria
authors: V
authors: Mintsopoulos
authors: University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Ontario, Canada (Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Occupational Therapy). aliciamcdougall@gmail.com.
authors: Alicia
authors: A
authors: McDougall
authors: Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (School of Occupational and Public Health). gillian.jordan@ryerson.ca.
authors: Gillian
authors: G
authors: Jordan
authors: Loretto College, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Department of Special Education). jennifer.casole@tcdsb.org.
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: Casole
authors: Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada (Centre for Research in Occupational Safety and Health). MLariviere@laurentian.ca.
authors: Michel
authors: M
authors: Lariviere
authors: Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada (Department of Social and Preventive Medicine). angelo.tremblay@kin.msp.ulaval.ca.
authors: Angelo
authors: A
authors: Tremblay
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D018582:Sick Leave; D014942:Workers' Compensation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: BMI; disability; illness; injury; obesity; workplace