OBESITY AND ABSENTEEISM - AN EPIDEMIOLOGIC-STUDY OF 10,825 EMPLOYED ADULTS

Purpose. This study was conducted to determine the extent of the relat ionship between obesity and absenteeism due to illness. A secondary ob jective was to ascertain the extent to which age, gender, family incom e, length of workweek, and cigarette smoking influenced the obesity-ab senteeism association. Design. A cross-sectional design was used. Data regarding obesity, absenteeism, and the potential confounding factors were collected during the same time period. Setting. Data were collec ted within workplaces throughout the U.S., and at the headquarters of Health Advancement Services, Inc. (HAS). Subjects. Subjects were 10,82 5 employed men and women who participated in an ongoing wellness scree ning program administered by HAS. Measures. The three-site skinfold te chnique was used to estimate body fat percentage. Absenteeism due to i llness and the potential confounding variables were assessed using a s tructured paper-pencil questionnaire. Results. Without controlling for any potential confounders, obese employees were more than twice as li kely to experience high-level absenteeism (seven or more absences due to illness during the past 6 months), and 1.49 times more likely to su ffer from moderate absenteeism (three to six absences due to illness d uring the last 6 months) than were lean employees. With all of the pot ential confounders controlled simultaneously, obese employees were 1.7 4 and 1.61 times more likely to experience high and moderate levels of absenteeism, respectively, than were lean individuals. Conclusions, O bese employees tend to be absent from work due to illness substantiall y more than their counterparts.