Obese People Leave Work More Often

In addition to placing a huge strain on the healthcare system, obese individuals also affect the economy indirectly; through the number of days off they need from work. The conclusion belongs to a new study, which indicates that employers may want to check their employees' waistlines more closely. The fatter the person, the more days off he or she is likely to need from the workplace, to deal with complications caused by their condition. Slimmer individuals, on the other hand, can work longer, and therefore be more productive, LiveScience reports.

While such studies may seem politically-incorrect and offensive at first, they actually aren't. Obesity has become a real public health issue, especially in the developed world. The situation is worst in the United States, where two thirds of the general population is overweight. A third of the general population is obese. The situation is made even worse when considering that many of these people do not consider their situation to be a problem. Naturally, they change their opinion as soon as complications appear. However, the danger exists that fit, normally-weighed individuals will become the exception soon, rather than the norm.

The effects the rampant spread of obesity has are already starting to become visible, scientists say. The new investigation, which was conducted by researchers at the King's College London, in the United Kingdom, shows that fat workers tend to take about 4 extra days off, when compared to their slimmer counterparts. The reason obese employees give for taking a sick leave often includes the need to take care of complications that occur from their condition. These include, but are not limited to, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. The research team hopes that employers will use their conclusions to encourage employees to become fit.

“Employers are in quite a unique position to contribute to the public health message and interventions around obesity and trying to reduce levels of obesity. Our hope is that by demonstrating the economic cost to them of obesity amongst their workforce that that will help motivate employers to get involved in thinking about this problem,” explains King's College London psychiatrist and study research scientist Samuel Harvey. Details of the new work appear in the August issue of the esteemed scientific journal Occupational Medicine.