Obesity ‘time-bomb’ weighs heavy on worker health, new research reveals
New research published by Nuffield Health yesterday shows that obesity can have a negative impact on worker health and wellbeing and can lead to depression and discrimination in the workplace.
Around six million people could be putting themselves at risk of life-threatening illness through a failure to recognise they are clinically obese, believing they are simply overweight, the research reveals.
More than one-in-ten (14 per cent) of the 3,126 adults surveyed by Nuffield Health said that they associated the word ‘unemployable’ with people who are obese and almost the same amount (11 per cent) said that they felt discriminated against at work from colleagues due to their weight.
Interestingly, the findings also reveal that more than a third (38 per cent) of those surveyed who had lost weight said that it had a positive effect on their work.
“Our research has shown us that obesity is a very real problem in the workplace and it impacts employee physical and mental wellbeing,” said Dr Andrew Jones, a GP and managing director wellbeing for Nuffield Health.
“We know obesity is a risk associated with both absenteeism and presenteeism, which is when an employee comes to work, but due to ill health their productivity is severely reduced.
“We hope this research highlights the need for more intervention and more help and support for those who are struggling with their weight. What is encouraging is that the data demonstrates that losing weight has a positive impact on someone’s working life.”
What makes us susceptible to burnout?
In this episode of the Safety & Health Podcast, ‘Burnout, stress and being human’, Heather Beach is joined by Stacy Thomson to discuss burnout, perfectionism and how to deal with burnout as an individual, as management and as an organisation.
We provide an insight on how to tackle burnout and why mental health is such a taboo subject, particularly in the workplace.
Obesity ‘time-bomb’ weighs heavy on worker health, new research reveals
New research published by Nuffield Health yesterday shows that obesity can have a negative impact on worker health and wellbeing and can lead to depression and discrimination in the workplace.
Safety & Health Practitioner
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I second Bob Wallace’s comments. Exercise self-control and exercise. Part of being fit to work is being fit.
Intervention and support!! What about self help and control by not becoming a glutton in the first place. Why is it we pander to those who refuse to help themselves and accept an epidemic which will cost the country millions. H&S is about occupational issues, not lifestye.
I despair at the way British society is going, where those who strive for health and welbeing, will need to supplement those who don’t. Get off your backside and get active; oh and eat less!!!
People who are on certain medication can gain wieght. So its not just over eating or heavy drinking.
Bob and Andrew – I hope neither of you are smokers or heavy drinkers? Food addiction can be almost as easy to break as any other addiction. And when it is symptomatic of much of the social disconnection that we see within our society, ‘victim blaming’ is not really very helpful. As an ex-Health Promotion Adviser turned Health & Safety Adviser I am saddened by the way that the ‘Health’ bit of Health & Safety is sacrificed when it has such a big impact on the workforce.
A little more compassion and a little less judgmentalism goes a long way!
Malcolm – you say that this is ‘an issue that is outside of anything to do with their workplace’. I think I may have to disagree. Looking at the issue ‘holistically’ the issue may be very much related to work. And if not related to then it could well affect your productivity / sickness rate so it is something that affects work. Diet may well be related to work. Poor pay or the lack of the ability to access good wholesome [ie low sugar] food and drink on the work premises could be the issue. The inability to take regular… Read more »
Obesity affects workers health, stress, welfare etc, come on!, do we really need some research bofin to tell us that??? , or is it, just because the elf and safety people say it, we can’t trust them and need to carry out our own research, wasting thousands of pounds, normal form wast money on what we all ready know rather than spend it on good H&S management.
Eric
Compassion? Judgmentalism? Are you seriously suggesting that employers be expected to address an issue that is outside of anything to do with their workplace (unless of course the employees might happen to be food tasters)?
We are talking about businesses here; companies trying to make a profit, not create rest homes. We already have the NHS bogged down with responsibilities for those who have no responsibility for themselves. Surely the argument for the inclusion of stress is literally, pathetically, childish but this goes even further beyond the pale.
Although I have some empathy with the comments on self help and control, people who are morbidly obese do seem to require an element of psychological help, as well as dietry advice to control their eating habits. It is not easy to just give up eating or cut down because it is addictive. The gut needs training to reduce the ’empty’ signals to the brain and in some cases surgery is required. Where an employee is identified at being at risk an employer should assist and allow time for the employee to make adjustments. Failing to tackle the problem will… Read more »
Unfortunately there is a major problem with dietary advice issued by the NHS and other bodies that is woefully inadequate and out of date. Also, the food industry, especially sugar lobby, has too much influence over what goes into food and on the policy making process for regulating the food industry. Until that is tackled, things will not improve. Sugar is the new tobacco, it has been said.