The Impact of Obesity in the Workplace: a Review of Contributing Factors, Consequences and Potential Solutions

Beyond individual responsibility: Exploring lay understandings of the contribution of environments on personal trajectories of obesity

INTRODUCTION

Reversing the upward trajectory of obesity requires responding by including the multiple influences on weight control. Research has focused on individual behaviours, overlooking the environments where individuals spend their lives and shape lifestyles. Thus, there is a need for lay understandings of the impact of environments as a cause and solution to obesity. This research aimed to understand the influence of environments on the adoption of health practices in adults with obesity and to identify lay strategies with which to address environmental barriers to behaviour change.

METHODS

Nineteen adults with a history of obesity living in the United Kingdom were interviewed through video conferencing between May 2020 and March 2021. Semi-structured interviews and socio-demographic questionnaires were used, and data analysed through hermeneutic phenomenology informed reflexive thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Three main themes were created: living with convenience and normalcy: the increased accessibility of unhealthy food, people interacting with digital media for positive practice change, and the need to prioritise prevention in schools, the National Health Service and the food industry.

CONCLUSIONS

The food environment was the major barrier, while interactions with social media was the most important opportunity to adopt healthy practices. The National Health Service was considered an obesogenic environment, something relevant since it has been traditionally recognised as an obesity management system. The perceptions from individuals with a history of obesity provide new suggestions on the influence of previously overlooked environments to design more adequate and effective interventions and policies that consider, more than in the past, the environments where people spend their lives.

Exploring the Applicability of General Dietary Recommendations for People Affected by Obesity

(1) Obesity has emerged as a major public health challenge with increasing prevalence globally. The General Dietary Behavior Inventory (GDBI) was developed based on official dietary recommendations. However, little is known about whether general dietary recommendations also apply to people affected by obesity and whether the GDBI can be used appropriately. (2) A cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 458 people meeting the inclusion criteria participated in the study. The assessment consisted of the GDBI and behavioral, dietary, and health-related variables. We used descriptive analysis to examine the item characteristics of the GDBI and inferential statistics to investigate the associations between the GDBI score and behavioral, dietary, and health-related outcomes. (3) Several items of the GDBI were concerned by ceiling effects. A higher GDBI score (indicating a higher adherence to dietary recommendations) was related to higher age, higher nutrition knowledge, more restrained eating behavior, lower impulsivity, and higher body mass index. There were no associations between the GDBI score and reported physical and mental health or quality of life. (4) The GDBI showed inconsistent relationships with the study outcomes. General dietary recommendations do not appear to be applicable to people with obesity. Hence, there is an urgent need for specific recommendations and subsequent assessments of behavioral adherence for people affected by obesity.

Occupational Disease in New York State: An Update

An assessment of occupational disease in New York State was undertaken that partially replicated and expanded earlier work from 1987. Utilizing an expanded conception of occupational disease, the assessment used a variety of data sources and methods to provide estimates of mortality and morbidity of occupational disease; workers exposed to specific workplace hazards; disparities in occupational disease among racial/ethnic groups and gender; costs and distribution of costs of occupational disease; and accessible occupational medical resources. Examples of the pathways work may impact health in some of the major health issues of current import including stress-related health conditions; substance use; and overweight/obesity were included. The report contains recommendations for addressing the problem of occupational disease in New York State and advocates for the convening of a statewide group to develop an occupational disease prevention agenda.

Stakeholders' Perceptions Regarding Adaptation and Implementation of Existing Individual and Environmental Workplace Health Promotion Interventions in Blue-Collar Work Settings

Blue-collar workers often have disadvantageous health statuses and might therefore benefit from a combination of individual and environmental workplace health promotion interventions. Exploring stakeholders' perceived facilitators and barriers regarding the combined implementation of these interventions in blue-collar work settings is important for effective implementation. A qualitative study consisting of 20 stakeholder interviews within six types of organisations in The Netherlands was conducted. The potential implementation of the evidence-based individual intervention SMARTsize and the environmental intervention company cafeteria 2.0 was discussed. Data were analysed using thematic analysis with a deductive approach. Five main themes emerged: (1) the availability of resources, (2) professional obligation, (3) expected employee cooperation, (4) the compatibility of the proposed health interventions, and (5) the content of implementation tools and procedures. Generally, stakeholders expressed a sense of professional obligation toward workplace health promotion, mentioning that the current societal focus on health and lifestyle provided the perfect opportunity to implement interventions to promote healthy eating and physical activity. However, they often perceived the high doses of employees' occupational physical activity as a barrier. We recommend co-creating interventions, implementation tools, and processes by involving stakeholders with different professional backgrounds and by adapting communication strategies at diverse organisational levels.

Perceptions of employees with a low and medium level of education towards workplace health promotion programmes: a mixed-methods study

BACKGROUND

Understanding the perceptions of lower socioeconomic groups towards workplace health promotion is important because they are underrepresented in workplace health promotion activities and generally engage in unhealthier lifestyle behaviour than high SEP groups. This study aims to explore interest in workplace health promotion programmes (WHPPs) among employees with a low and medium level of education regarding participation and desired programme characteristics (i.e. the employer's role, the source, the channel, the involvement of the social environment and conditions of participation).

METHODS

A mixed-methods design was used, consisting of a questionnaire study (n = 475) and a sequential focus group study (n = 27) to enrich the questionnaire's results. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to analyse the associations between subgroups (i.e. demographics, weight status) and interest in a WHPP. The focus group data were analysed deductively through thematic analysis, using MAXQDA 2018 for qualitative data analysis.

RESULTS

The questionnaire study showed that 36.8% of respondents were interested in an employer-provided WHPP, while 45.1% expressed no interest. Regarding subgroup differences, respondents with a low level of education were less likely to express interest in a WHPP than those with a medium level of education (OR = .54, 95%, CI = .35-.85). No significant differences were found concerning gender, age and weight status. The overall themes discussed in the focus groups were similar to the questionnaires (i.e. the employer's role, the source, the channel, the involvement of the social environment and conditions of participation). The qualitative data showed that participants' perceptions were often related to their jobs and working conditions.

CONCLUSIONS

Employees with a medium level of education were more inclined to be interested in a WHPP than those with a low level of education. Focus groups suggested preferences varied depending on job type and related tasks. Recommendations are to allow WHPP design to adapt to this variation and facilitate flexible participation. Future research investigating employers' perceptions of WHPPs is needed to enable a mutual understanding of an effective programme design, possibly contributing to sustainable WHPP implementation.

The bidirectional relationship of obesity and labor market status - Findings from a German prospective panel study

Background

Given the inconsistent findings regarding associations between obesity and unemployment, our analysis is one of the few that explores bidirectional changes in obesity and unemployment. In our prospective study, we address factors associated with the

transition into and transition out of obesity, including unemployment, and

transition into and out of unemployment, including obesity.

Subjects and methods

The Labor Market and Social Security-Panel (PASS) consists of two independent, nationally representative German subsamples: residents receiving unemployment benefits (50%) and a representative sample of residents (50%). The sample contains N = 11 361 observations between two measurement points three years apart of N = 8440 individuals participating in two or three waves between 2009 and 2015. We analyzed potential predictors of the transition in and out of obesity and unemployment, including health-related quality of life (HrQoL) and physical activity, using logistic regression models.

Results

Transition into obesity: Unemployed participants had a higher probability of exhibiting a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 35 kg/m² three years later (transition into obesity classes II and III; Exp(B) = 1.5).

Transition out of obesity: Unemployment did not predict transition out of obesity. Physical activity at least once weekly increased the probability of no longer having a BMI ≥ 35 kg/m² three years later (Exp(B) = 2.0).

Transition into unemployment: Obesity was not associated with becoming unemployed three years later. Participants with a lower mental HrQoL were more likely to become unemployed (Exp(B) = 0.98).

Transition out of unemployment: Unemployed individuals reporting a BMI of 30–34.9 kg/m² were less likely to leave unemployment (Exp(B) = 0.67). A better physical HrQoL was associated with a higher probability of leaving unemployment (Exp(B) = 1.01).

Conclusions

Obesity does not predict future unemployment, but unemployed individuals with obesity have a lower probability of labor market re-entry. Unemployment increases obesity risk. Interactions between obesity and possible confounding variables and their effect on unemployment warrants further examination.

Obesity and sickness absenteeism among health workers in a private hospital in South Africa

Background

There is a worldwide trend among the general population including health workers to become more overweight and obese. Such obesity can reduce work ability as manifested through sickness absenteeism. The aim of this study was to describe the obesity among health workers in a private hospital in central South Africa, as measured by the body mass index (BMI) as well as the association of obesity and sickness absenteeism.

Methods

A cohort analytical study was conducted to describe changes in the BMI of employed health workers as well as the association of obesity and absenteeism in a private hospital in South Africa. The BMI measurement on employment, a repeat BMI at the time of the study as well as the sick leave days taken since employment of all health workers who had been employed for more than one year were analysed.

Results

Full time employees (n = 344) participated in the study of whom 33.7% were obese; 26.2% were overweight; 36.3% had normal weight and 3.7% were underweight at employment. On repeat BMI done in February 2016, 43.0% were obese; 27.6% were overweight; 28.2% had normal weight and 1.2% were underweight. There was no difference in the amount of sick leaves taken between the normal weight, overweight and obese groups.

Conclusion

A trend among health workers to change to a higher BMI category during employment is concerning, but there was no statistically significant association between the different weight groups and sickness absenteeism. The negative impact of obesity on the productivity of workers cannot be ignored.

Effects of Tele-Exercise on Body Weight, Body Mass Index, and Fat Mass of Obese Employees

Purpose: Obesity is a growing health problem in Indonesia caused by physical inactivity. Meanwhile, employees are a group that is susceptible to obesity as they often have limited time while working sedentarily in front of a desk or computer, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. This causes risks of many cardiovascular diseases, obesity and can indirectly cause death. Tele-exercise, a live online video exercise, may be the solution to this problem. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to analyse the effects of tele-exercise on body weight, BMI, and fat mass percentage as indicators of obesity. Methods: The research was conducted from July 2020 to January 2021 according to the policy regarding the pandemic. Also, it used a pre-post quasy experimental design. A total of 39 subjects were given tele-exercise involving 2 strength training and 1 cardio training per week for 3 months. Findings: Subsequently, the results showed that exercise had a significant effect (p<0.05) on BMI and body weight, while fat mass percentage only decreased significantly (p<0.05) from the second to third assessment. Originality: To our knowledge, this is the first study analysing the effects of tele-exercise on obese employee’s body weight, body mass index and fat mass. Conclusion: This proves that tele-Exercise is an effective therapy for obesity that does not require a large space, and has beneficial online aspects, especially during the pandemic. The timing of measurement and hydration status should be considered to assess the body composition.

Social isolation but not deprivation involved in employment status after bariatric surgery

An increase in employment rate was observed among individuals who underwent bariatric surgery. This study assessed the relationship between employment rate and weight loss, deprivation, and Bariatric Analysis and Reporting Outcome System (BAROS) scores after bariatric surgery in a deprived area. This retrospective study evaluated the employment rate at a mean period of 2.3±0.1 years after bariatric surgery among 133 individuals. The Evaluation of Deprivation and Inequalities in Health Examination Centers (EPICES score), satisfaction scale, and BAROS (self-esteem, physical activity, social life, work conditions, and sexual activity) questionnaires were used. The mean age of the participants was 45 (range: 19–67) years. Approximately 88% were women. The initial mean body mass index (BMI) was 42.7 kg/m², and about 88% of the participants underwent sleeve gastrectomy. The mean decrease in BMI was 12 ± 0.5 kg/m². The mean EPICES score (N<30), BAROS, and satisfaction scale (range: 1–5) scores were 31.9±18, 1.3±1.1, and 4.27±1.19, respectively. After surgery, 19 participants obtained a job. However, three were unemployed. Based on a multivariate analysis, employed and unemployed participants (77 vs 52) before surgery had a lower initial BMI and better BAROS and satisfaction scale scores. After surgery, there was no difference between participants who obtained a new job and those still did not have a job in terms of questionnaire responses. Obtaining a new job was not associated with BMI, sex, or age differences. However, there was a positive correlation between social life score and weight loss. Bariatric surgery increased an individual’s chance of finding a job independently of deprivation status. Participants with a pre-operative job had a better perception of satisfaction and BAROS scores. Moreover, social isolation was correlated with unsuccessful weight loss.

The Role of Exercise, Diet, and Cytokines in Preventing Obesity and Improving Adipose Tissue

The prevalence of obesity continues to rise worldwide despite evidence-based public health recommendations. The promise to adopt a healthy lifestyle is increasingly important for tackling this global epidemic. Calorie restriction or regular exercise or a combination of the two is accepted as an effective strategy in preventing or treating obesity. Furthermore, the benefits conferred by regular exercise to overcome obesity are attributed not only to reduced adiposity or reduced levels of circulating lipids but also to the proteins, peptides, enzymes, and metabolites that are released from contracting skeletal muscle or other organs. The secretion of these molecules called cytokines in response to exercise induces browning of white adipose tissue by increasing the expression of brown adipocyte-specific genes within the white adipose tissue, suggesting that exercise-induced cytokines may play a significant role in preventing obesity. In this review, we present research-based evidence supporting the effects of exercise and various diet interventions on preventing obesity and adipose tissue health. We also discuss the interplay between adipose tissue and the cytokines secreted from skeletal muscle and other organs that are known to affect adipose tissue and metabolism.

Greater and More Focused Measures Are Needed to Tackle Diabetes and Obesity Epidemics in the Nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council

Beyond the suffering of the affected subjects, type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity epidemics gripping the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states are expected to seriously jeopardize these nations' economies and development due to productivity losses. Available data show that healthcare budgets in GCC nations are under tremendous pressure because of diabetes- and obesity-linked comorbidities. Furthermore, T2D, once an over-forties disease, risks becoming a whole-adult-life condition because of obesity-associated early-onset T2D and prediabetes. The incidence of T2D is set to worsen unless efficient actions are taken to fight obesity and prevent the conversion of prediabetes to T2D. There is a consensus that the concomitant increase in obesity rates drives T2D rates upward. Fighting obesity at all levels should, therefore, take center stage for the GCC nations. The battle against obesity and T2D is a long-term and complex one. Therefore, only through concerted efforts between several public and private actors, including health, economic, and urbanization agencies, food producers and retailers, schools, families, youth organizations, sports clubs, and voluntary organizations, can this battle be won. The present review tries to assess the current status of diabetes and obesity epidemics in the GCC context and take stock of some of the policies and initiatives that have been, or need to be, implemented to address their growing burden.

Health Promotion Programs and Policies in the Workplace: An Exploratory Study With Alaska Businesses

Introduction

We examined health insurance benefits, workplace policies, and health promotion programs in small to midsize businesses in Alaska whose workforces were at least 20% Alaska Native. Participating businesses were enrolled in a randomized trial to improve health promotion efforts.

Methods

Twenty-six Alaska businesses completed from January 2009 through October 2010 a 30-item survey on health benefits, policies, and programs in the workplace. We generated frequency statistics to describe overall insurance coverage, and to detail insurance coverage, company policies, and workplace programs in 3 domains: tobacco use, physical activity and nutrition, and disease screening and management.

Results

Businesses varied in the number of employees (mean, 250; median, 121; range, 41–1,200). Most businesses offered at least partial health insurance for full-time employees and their dependents. Businesses completely banned tobacco in the workplace, and insurance coverage for tobacco cessation was limited. Eighteen had onsite food vendors, yet fewer than 6 businesses offered healthy food options, and even fewer offered them at competitive prices. Cancer screening and treatment were the health benefits most commonly covered by insurance.

Conclusion

Although insurance coverage and workplace policies for chronic disease screening and management were widely available, significant opportunities remain for Alaska businesses to collaborate with federal, state, and community organizations on health promotion efforts to reduce the risk of chronic illness among their employees.

Stigma perceived by overweight women

OBJECTIVE

to understand the experience of discrimination perceived by overweight women.

METHODS

a qualitative research conducted at an outpatient clinic in Salvador, Bahia, where eleven women were interviewed. The interviews were transcribed and submitted to thematic content analysis.

RESULTS

the analysis of the statements expressed three categories: Suffering discrimination in different social contexts: denounced disrespect, hostility, veiled and/or explicit exclusion, prejudice, injustice and insults lived in public transport, at work, in the family environment, in social events and commercial establishments; Experiencing negative feelings about discrimination: revealed inferiority, sadness, shame, fear, anger, frustration, low esteem and discouragement faced by women; Reacting to discrimination: expressed isolation of marital intimacy and social encounters, removal from work, concealment of body and feelings and even illness of women.

FINAL CONSIDERATIONS

the discrimination experienced in various settings has caused suffering, embarrassment, negative feelings, shame, isolation and loss in women's lives.

Impact of nutrition interventions and dietary nutrient density on productivity in the workplace

The global spread of diet-related noncommunicable diseases represents a threat to public health and national economies alike. The elimination of poverty and the eradication of hunger, two key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, cannot be accomplished without a well-nourished labor force. Easy access to low-cost diets that are energy dense but nutrient poor has resulted in hidden hunger, in which micronutrient deficiencies coexist with obesity or overweight. Workplace interventions in low- and middle-income countries have addressed nutrient adequacy and micronutrient deficiencies, often using fortified foods. Workplace interventions in high-income countries have largely focused on weight loss, smoking cessation, stress reduction, and physical activity. Even though improvement of productivity may have been the ultimate goal, relatively few interventions in high-income countries have explored the likely impact of improved dietary nutrient density on workplace performance. Given that optimal nutrition benefits both physical and mental health, interventions to improve diet quality ought to have a measurable impact on the productivity of the labor force. The present review examines the evidence linking workplace dietary interventions with workplace productivity measures.

Work participation and risk factors for health-related job loss among older workers in the Health and Employment after Fifty (HEAF) study: Evidence from a 2-year follow-up period

INTRODUCTION

Rapidly increasing population old age dependency ratios create a growing economic imperative for people to work to older ages. However, rates of older worker employment are only increasing slowly. Amongst a cohort of contemporary older workers, we investigated risk factors for health-related job loss (HRJL) over 2 years of follow-up.

METHODS

HEAF is a population based cohort study of adults in England (aged 50-64 years at baseline) who provided information about socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle, and work at baseline and annual follow-ups. Exits from paid work were mapped and risk factors for HRJL explored in a multiple-record survival dataset by Cox proportional hazards models.

RESULTS

2475 (75%) men and 2668 (66%) women were employed; 115 (4.6%) men and 182 (6.8%) women reported HRJL. Employment as road transport drivers/in vehicle trades (men), or as teaching/education/nursing/midwifery professionals or in caring personal services (women), was more frequent among people exiting work for health-related versus non-health-related reasons. Principal socio-demographic and lifestyle risk factors for HRJL were: struggling financially (men and women); low physical activity (men); being overweight or obese, and current smoking (women). Mutually adjusted work-related risk factors for HRJL were job dissatisfaction, and not coping with the physical (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]: men 5.34[3.40,8.39]; women 3.73[2.48,5.60]) or mental demands (women only, 2.02[1.38,2.96]) of work.

CONCLUSIONS

Employment characteristics of contemporary older workers differ by sex. Job satisfaction and perceived ability to cope with the physical and mental demands of work are key determinants of HRJL which employers could potentially influence to enable work to older ages.

A longitudinal exploration of the relationship between obesity, and long term health condition with presenteeism in Australian workplaces, 2006-2018

BACKGROUND

Obesity and long term health condition (LTHC) are major public health concerns that have an impact on productivity losses at work. Little is known about the longitudinal association between obesity and LTHC with impaired productivity.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to explore the longitudinal association between obesity and LTHC with presenteeism or working while sick.

DESIGN

Longitudinal research design.

SETTING

Australian workplaces.

METHODS

This study pooled individual-level data of 111,086 employees collected in wave 6 through wave 18 from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey. The study used a Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) model with logistic link function to estimate the association.

RESULTS

The findings suggest that overweight (Odds Ratios [OR]: 1.09, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.05-1.14), obesity (OR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.31-1.45), and LTHC (OR: 3.03, 95% CI: 2.90-3.16) are significantly positively associated with presenteeism.

CONCLUSIONS

The longitudinal association between obesity and LTHC with presenteeism among Australian employees implies that interventions to improve workers' health and well-being will reduce the risk of presenteeism at work.

Factors Contributing to Nurse Productivity in Public Hospitals in Surabaya, Indonesia

This study aimed at examining the factors that contribute to nursing productivity in public hospitals in Surabaya. Data relating to the respondents' characteristics and their productivity were collected using a questionnaire incorporating the Behaviorally Anchored Rating Scale. The samples were drawn from 31 nurses form the emergency room (ER) and 29 nurses from the intensive care unit (ICU) wards of a public hospital in Surabaya, Indonesia, of whom, 52 nurses participated voluntarily and indicated their willingness to respond by signing an informed consent form. The chi-square and Fisher's exact test was used to determine associations between the determinants (demographic characteristics, lifestyle and nutritional status) and productivity and the strength of association was identified by using logistic regression. The results from this study found that gender had borderline significant and duration of work experience had a significant association with nurse productivity. Therefore, gender and duration of working experience are factors which should be taken into consideration when managing human resources working in ERs and ICUs while basic nursing competencies are clearly also important factors in maintaining productivity.

Obesity in the Workplace: Impact, Outcomes, and Recommendations

OBJECTIVE

To conduct a comprehensive literature review to develop recommendations for managing obesity among workers to improve health outcomes and to explore the impact of obesity on health costs to determine whether a case can be made for surgical interventions and insurance coverage.

METHODS

We searched PubMed from 2011 to 2016, and CINAHL, Scopus, and Cochrane Registry of Clinical Trials for interventions addressing obesity in the workplace.

RESULTS

A total of 1419 articles were screened, resulting in 275 articles being included. Several areas were identified that require more research and investigation.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings support the use of both lifestyle modification and bariatric surgery to assist appropriate patients in losing weight.

Is shift work associated with a higher risk of overweight or obesity? A systematic review of observational studies with meta-analysis

Background

An increasing number of original studies suggest that exposure to shift work could be associated with the risk of overweight and obesity, but the results remain conflicted and inconclusive. This study aimed to quantitatively synthesize available epidemiological evidence on the association between shift work and the risk of overweight and obesity by a meta-analysis.

Methods

The authors searched PubMed, Embase and the reference lists of all included studies up to April 2017, with a verification search in December 2017. Inclusion criteria were original studies that reported odds ratios, relative risks or hazard ratios (ORs, RRs or HRs, respectively) of at least one outcome of overweight or obesity. Summary risk estimates were calculated by random-effect models.

Results

Twenty-six studies (7 cohort studies, 18 cross-sectional studies and 1 case-control study) involving 311 334 participants were identified. Among these studies, the cut-off points of overweight and obesity varied greatly, so the heterogeneity was substantial; however, the results were stable. Shift work was found to be positively associated with the risk of overweight [RR: 1.25; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.08-1.44] and obesity (RR: 1.17; 95% CI: 1.12-1.22).

Conclusions

Individuals involved in shift work are more likely to become overweight or obese. Appropriate preventive interventions in the organization of shift schedules according to ergonomic criteria would allow shift workers to avoid potential health impairment.

Choice architecture interventions to improve diet and/or dietary behaviour by healthcare staff in high-income countries: a systematic review

OBJECTIVES

We were commissioned by the behavioural insights team at Public Health England to synthesise the evidence on choice architecture interventions to increase healthy purchasing and/or consumption of food and drink by National Health Service (NHS) staff.

DATA SOURCES

MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Central register of Controlled Trials, PsycINFO, Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts and Web of Science were searched from inception until May 2017 and references were screened independently by two reviewers.

DESIGN

A systematic review that included randomised experimental or intervention studies, interrupted time series and controlled before and after studies.

PARTICIPANTS

Healthcare staff of high-income countries.

INTERVENTION

Choice architecture interventions that aimed to improve dietary purchasing and/or consumption (outcomes) of staff.

APPRAISAL AND SYNTHESIS

Eligibility assessment, quality appraisal, data abstraction and analysis were completed by two reviewers. Quality appraisal of randomised trials was informed by the Cochrane Handbook, and the Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for Nonrandomized Studies was used for the remainder. Findings were narratively synthesised.

RESULTS

Eighteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Five studies included multiple workplaces (including healthcare settings), 13 were conducted in healthcare settings only. Interventions in 10 studies were choice architecture only and 8 studies involved a complex intervention with a choice architecture element. Interventions involving a proximity element (making behavioural options easier or harder to engage with) appear to be frequently effective at changing behaviour. One study presented an effective sizing intervention. Labelling alone was generally not effective at changing purchasing behaviour. Interventions including an availability element were generally reported to be successful at changing behaviour but no included study examined this element alone. There was no strong evidence for the effect of pricing on purchasing or dietary intake.

CONCLUSION

Proximity, availability and sizing are choice architecture elements that are likely to be effective for NHS organisations.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42017064872.

Workplace interventions for reducing sitting at work

BACKGROUND

A large number of people are employed in sedentary occupations. Physical inactivity and excessive sitting at workplaces have been linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity, and all-cause mortality.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the effectiveness of workplace interventions to reduce sitting at work compared to no intervention or alternative interventions.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, OSH UPDATE, PsycINFO, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the World Health Organization (WHO) International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) search portal up to 9 August 2017. We also screened reference lists of articles and contacted authors to find more studies.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs), cross-over RCTs, cluster-randomised controlled trials (cluster-RCTs), and quasi-RCTs of interventions to reduce sitting at work. For changes of workplace arrangements, we also included controlled before-and-after studies. The primary outcome was time spent sitting at work per day, either self-reported or measured using devices such as an accelerometer-inclinometer and duration and number of sitting bouts lasting 30 minutes or more. We considered energy expenditure, total time spent sitting (including sitting at and outside work), time spent standing at work, work productivity and adverse events as secondary outcomes.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently screened titles, abstracts and full-text articles for study eligibility. Two review authors independently extracted data and assessed risk of bias. We contacted authors for additional data where required.

MAIN RESULTS

We found 34 studies - including two cross-over RCTs, 17 RCTs, seven cluster-RCTs, and eight controlled before-and-after studies - with a total of 3,397 participants, all from high-income countries. The studies evaluated physical workplace changes (16 studies), workplace policy changes (four studies), information and counselling (11 studies), and multi-component interventions (four studies). One study included both physical workplace changes and information and counselling components. We did not find any studies that specifically investigated the effects of standing meetings or walking meetings on sitting time.Physical workplace changesInterventions using sit-stand desks, either alone or in combination with information and counselling, reduced sitting time at work on average by 100 minutes per workday at short-term follow-up (up to three months) compared to sit-desks (95% confidence interval (CI) -116 to -84, 10 studies, low-quality evidence). The pooled effect of two studies showed sit-stand desks reduced sitting time at medium-term follow-up (3 to 12 months) by an average of 57 minutes per day (95% CI -99 to -15) compared to sit-desks. Total sitting time (including sitting at and outside work) also decreased with sit-stand desks compared to sit-desks (mean difference (MD) -82 minutes/day, 95% CI -124 to -39, two studies) as did the duration of sitting bouts lasting 30 minutes or more (MD -53 minutes/day, 95% CI -79 to -26, two studies, very low-quality evidence).We found no significant difference between the effects of standing desks and sit-stand desks on reducing sitting at work. Active workstations, such as treadmill desks or cycling desks, had unclear or inconsistent effects on sitting time.Workplace policy changesWe found no significant effects for implementing walking strategies on workplace sitting time at short-term (MD -15 minutes per day, 95% CI -50 to 19, low-quality evidence, one study) and medium-term (MD -17 minutes/day, 95% CI -61 to 28, one study) follow-up. Short breaks (one to two minutes every half hour) reduced time spent sitting at work on average by 40 minutes per day (95% CI -66 to -15, one study, low-quality evidence) compared to long breaks (two 15-minute breaks per workday) at short-term follow-up.Information and counsellingProviding information, feedback, counselling, or all of these resulted in no significant change in time spent sitting at work at short-term follow-up (MD -19 minutes per day, 95% CI -57 to 19, two studies, low-quality evidence). However, the reduction was significant at medium-term follow-up (MD -28 minutes per day, 95% CI -51 to -5, two studies, low-quality evidence).Computer prompts combined with information resulted in no significant change in sitting time at work at short-term follow-up (MD -14 minutes per day, 95% CI -39 to 10, three studies, low-quality evidence), but at medium-term follow-up they produced a significant reduction (MD -55 minutes per day, 95% CI -96 to -14, one study). Furthermore, computer prompting resulted in a significant decrease in the average number (MD -1.1, 95% CI -1.9 to -0.3, one study) and duration (MD -74 minutes per day, 95% CI -124 to -24, one study) of sitting bouts lasting 30 minutes or more.Computer prompts with instruction to stand reduced sitting at work on average by 14 minutes per day (95% CI 10 to 19, one study) more than computer prompts with instruction to walk at least 100 steps at short-term follow-up.We found no significant reduction in workplace sitting time at medium-term follow-up following mindfulness training (MD -23 minutes per day, 95% CI -63 to 17, one study, low-quality evidence). Similarly a single study reported no change in sitting time at work following provision of highly personalised or contextualised information and less personalised or contextualised information. One study found no significant effects of activity trackers on sitting time at work.Multi-component interventions Combining multiple interventions had significant but heterogeneous effects on sitting time at work (573 participants, three studies, very low-quality evidence) and on time spent in prolonged sitting bouts (two studies, very low-quality evidence) at short-term follow-up.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

At present there is low-quality evidence that the use of sit-stand desks reduce workplace sitting at short-term and medium-term follow-ups. However, there is no evidence on their effects on sitting over longer follow-up periods. Effects of other types of interventions, including workplace policy changes, provision of information and counselling, and multi-component interventions, are mostly inconsistent. The quality of evidence is low to very low for most interventions, mainly because of limitations in study protocols and small sample sizes. There is a need for larger cluster-RCTs with longer-term follow-ups to determine the effectiveness of different types of interventions to reduce sitting time at work.

Differences in Context-Specific Sedentary Behaviors According to Weight Status in Adolescents, Adults and Seniors: A Compositional Data Analysis

To develop effective sedentary behavior interventions aimed at people who are overweight/obese, detailed insight is needed into the contexts of sedentary behavior of these people. Therefore, the aims of this study were to describe the composition of sedentary behavior and to compare context-specific sedentary behaviors between different weight groups. Cross-sectional data were used from a study conducted in 2013⁻2014 among a Flemish sample of adolescents (n = 513), adults (n = 301), and seniors (n = 258). Sixteen context-specific sedentary behaviors were assessed using a validated questionnaire during the week and weekend. Compositional descriptive statistics were performed to determine the relative contribution of context-specific sedentary behaviors in the three age groups. Compositional multivariate analysis of covariance and pairwise comparisons were conducted to examine weight group differences in context-specific sedentary behaviors. The compositional means indicated that the highest proportion of sedentary time was spent at school, at work, and while watching television. Statistically significant differences were found in the composition of sedentary behaviors between healthy weight and overweight/obese participants. In all age groups, socially engaging sedentary behaviors were more prevalent in healthy weight people, whereas socially disengaging behaviors were more prevalent in overweight/obese people. Consequently, the findings of this study suggest that future overweight/obesity interventions should no longer focus on total sedentary time, as not all context-specific sedentary behaviors are associated with overweight/obesity. Instead, it might be better to target specific contexts of sedentary behaviors-preferably those less socially engaging-when aiming to reduce overweight/obesity.

Forced expiratory volume in one second: A novel predictor of work disability in subjects with suspected obstructive sleep apnea

Whether the association of work disability with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is mainly due to the disease, i.e. the number and frequency of apneas-hypoapneas, or to coexisting factors independent from the disease, is not well-established. In this study, we aim to evaluate work ability in a group of subjects undergoing OSA workup and to identify the major contributors of impaired work ability. In a cross-sectional study, we enrolled 146 consecutive subjects who have been working for the last five years and referred to the sleep disorders outpatients' clinic of the University-Hospital of Ferrara, Italy, with suspected OSA. After completing an interview in which the Work Ability Index (WAI) and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) questionnaires were administered to assess work ability and excessive daytime sleepiness, respectively, subjects underwent overnight polysomnography for OSA diagnosing and spirometry. Of the 146 subjects, 140 (96%) completed the tests and questionnaires and, of these, 66 exhibited work disability (WAI < 37). OSA was diagnosed (apnea-hypopnea index ≥ 5) in 45 (68%) of the 66 subjects. After controlling for confounders, a lower level of forced expiratory volume at 1 second (FEV1), [odds ratio 0.97 (95% CI 0.95-1.00)], older age [1.09 (95% CI 1.03-1.15)], excessive daytime sleepiness [3.16 (95% CI 1.20-8.34)] and a worse quality of life [0.96 (95% CI 0.94-1.00)], but not OSA [1.04 (95% CI 0.41-2.62)], were associated with work disability. Patients with a higher number of diseases, in which OSA was not included, and a lower quality of life had an increased probability of absenteeism in the previous 12 months. In subjects with suspected OSA, FEV1 can be an important predictor of work disability.

Workplace interventions for reducing sitting at work

BACKGROUND

A large number of people are employed in sedentary occupations. Physical inactivity and excessive sitting at workplaces have been linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity, and all-cause mortality.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the effectiveness of workplace interventions to reduce sitting at work compared to no intervention or alternative interventions.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, OSH UPDATE, PsycINFO, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the World Health Organization (WHO) International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) search portal up to 9 August 2017. We also screened reference lists of articles and contacted authors to find more studies.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs), cross-over RCTs, cluster-randomised controlled trials (cluster-RCTs), and quasi-RCTs of interventions to reduce sitting at work. For changes of workplace arrangements, we also included controlled before-and-after studies. The primary outcome was time spent sitting at work per day, either self-reported or measured using devices such as an accelerometer-inclinometer and duration and number of sitting bouts lasting 30 minutes or more. We considered energy expenditure, total time spent sitting (including sitting at and outside work), time spent standing at work, work productivity and adverse events as secondary outcomes.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently screened titles, abstracts and full-text articles for study eligibility. Two review authors independently extracted data and assessed risk of bias. We contacted authors for additional data where required.

MAIN RESULTS

We found 34 studies - including two cross-over RCTs, 17 RCTs, seven cluster-RCTs, and eight controlled before-and-after studies - with a total of 3,397 participants, all from high-income countries. The studies evaluated physical workplace changes (16 studies), workplace policy changes (four studies), information and counselling (11 studies), and multi-component interventions (four studies). One study included both physical workplace changes and information and counselling components. We did not find any studies that specifically investigated the effects of standing meetings or walking meetings on sitting time.Physical workplace changesInterventions using sit-stand desks, either alone or in combination with information and counselling, reduced sitting time at work on average by 100 minutes per workday at short-term follow-up (up to three months) compared to sit-desks (95% confidence interval (CI) -116 to -84, 10 studies, low-quality evidence). The pooled effect of two studies showed sit-stand desks reduced sitting time at medium-term follow-up (3 to 12 months) by an average of 57 minutes per day (95% CI -99 to -15) compared to sit-desks. Total sitting time (including sitting at and outside work) also decreased with sit-stand desks compared to sit-desks (mean difference (MD) -82 minutes/day, 95% CI -124 to -39, two studies) as did the duration of sitting bouts lasting 30 minutes or more (MD -53 minutes/day, 95% CI -79 to -26, two studies, very low-quality evidence).We found no significant difference between the effects of standing desks and sit-stand desks on reducing sitting at work. Active workstations, such as treadmill desks or cycling desks, had unclear or inconsistent effects on sitting time.Workplace policy changesWe found no significant effects for implementing walking strategies on workplace sitting time at short-term (MD -15 minutes per day, 95% CI -50 to 19, low-quality evidence, one study) and medium-term (MD -17 minutes/day, 95% CI -61 to 28, one study) follow-up. Short breaks (one to two minutes every half hour) reduced time spent sitting at work on average by 40 minutes per day (95% CI -66 to -15, one study, low-quality evidence) compared to long breaks (two 15-minute breaks per workday) at short-term follow-up.Information and counsellingProviding information, feedback, counselling, or all of these resulted in no significant change in time spent sitting at work at short-term follow-up (MD -19 minutes per day, 95% CI -57 to 19, two studies, low-quality evidence). However, the reduction was significant at medium-term follow-up (MD -28 minutes per day, 95% CI -51 to -5, two studies, low-quality evidence).Computer prompts combined with information resulted in no significant change in sitting time at work at short-term follow-up (MD -10 minutes per day, 95% CI -45 to 24, two studies, low-quality evidence), but at medium-term follow-up they produced a significant reduction (MD -55 minutes per day, 95% CI -96 to -14, one study). Furthermore, computer prompting resulted in a significant decrease in the average number (MD -1.1, 95% CI -1.9 to -0.3, one study) and duration (MD -74 minutes per day, 95% CI -124 to -24, one study) of sitting bouts lasting 30 minutes or more.Computer prompts with instruction to stand reduced sitting at work on average by 14 minutes per day (95% CI 10 to 19, one study) more than computer prompts with instruction to walk at least 100 steps at short-term follow-up.We found no significant reduction in workplace sitting time at medium-term follow-up following mindfulness training (MD -23 minutes per day, 95% CI -63 to 17, one study, low-quality evidence). Similarly a single study reported no change in sitting time at work following provision of highly personalised or contextualised information and less personalised or contextualised information. One study found no significant effects of activity trackers on sitting time at work.Multi-component interventions Combining multiple interventions had significant but heterogeneous effects on sitting time at work (573 participants, three studies, very low-quality evidence) and on time spent in prolonged sitting bouts (two studies, very low-quality evidence) at short-term follow-up.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

At present there is low-quality evidence that the use of sit-stand desks reduce workplace sitting at short-term and medium-term follow-ups. However, there is no evidence on their effects on sitting over longer follow-up periods. Effects of other types of interventions, including workplace policy changes, provision of information and counselling, and multi-component interventions, are mostly inconsistent. The quality of evidence is low to very low for most interventions, mainly because of limitations in study protocols and small sample sizes. There is a need for larger cluster-RCTs with longer-term follow-ups to determine the effectiveness of different types of interventions to reduce sitting time at work.

Obesity and pelvic organ prolapse

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The purpose of this review is to review the data on the relationship of obesity and pelvic organ prolapse (POP). This review is timely and relevant as the prevalence of obesity is increasing worldwide, and it is an important risk factor to consider in counseling women on management of prolapse symptoms and outcomes for surgical treatment.

RECENT FINDINGS

The main findings in the literature include: Obesity is increasing worldwide and impacts health, social life, work and healthcare costs. Elevated BMI is an important lifestyle factor affecting pelvic prolapse. The most probable mechanism of POP development among obese women is the increase in intra-abdominal pressure that causes weakening of pelvic floor muscles and fascia. Obesity is associated with significant pelvic floor symptoms and impairment of quality of life (QOL). Weight loss is likely not associated with anatomic improvement, but may be associated with prolapse symptom improvement. Weight loss should be considered a primary option in obese women for its beneficial effects on multiple organ systems and reducing pelvic floor disorder (PFD) symptoms. Although the operation time in obese women is significantly longer than in healthy weight women, the complication rate of surgery has not been shown to be increased compared to nonobese patients, regardless of route of surgery. There are data to support the vaginal approach in obese women. Some studies have shown that women with high body weight are associated with an increase in the risk for both anatomical and functional recurrence, and other studies have shown no difference.

SUMMARY

Obesity is a prevalent modifiable condition that impacts PFDs including pelvic prolapse. Patients should be counseled using clinical judgment, knowledge of the literature and with the goal of improving QOL.

National policies for the promotion of physical activity and healthy nutrition in the workplace context: a behaviour change wheel guided content analysis of policy papers in Finland

Background

Health policy papers disseminate recommendations and guidelines for the development and implementation of health promotion interventions. Such documents have rarely been investigated with regard to their assumed mechanisms of action for changing behaviour. The Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) and Behaviour Change Techniques (BCT) Taxonomy have been used to code behaviour change intervention descriptions, but to our knowledge such “retrofitting” of policy papers has not previously been reported. This study aims first to identify targets, mediators, and change strategies for physical activity (PA) and nutrition behaviour change in Finnish policy papers on workplace health promotion, and second to assess the suitability of the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) approach for this purpose.

Method

We searched all national-level health policy papers effectual in Finland in August 2016 focusing on the promotion of PA and/or healthy nutrition in the workplace context (n = 6). Policy recommendations targeting employees’ nutrition and PA including sedentary behaviour (SB) were coded using BCW, TDF, and BCT Taxonomy.

Results

A total of 125 recommendations were coded in the six policy papers, and in two additional documents referenced by them. Psychological capability, physical opportunity, and social opportunity were frequently identified (22%, 31%, and 24%, respectively), whereas physical capability was almost completely absent (1%). Three TDF domains (knowledge, skills, and social influence) were observed in all papers. Multiple intervention functions and BCTs were identified in all papers but several recommendations were too vague to be coded reliably. Influencing individuals (46%) and changing the physical environment (44%) were recommended more frequently than influencing the social environment (10%).

Conclusions

The BCW approach appeared to be useful for analysing the content of health policy papers. Paying more attention to underlying assumptions regarding behavioural change processes may help to identify neglected aspects in current policy, and to develop interventions based on recommendations, thus helping to increase the impact of policy papers.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12889-017-4574-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Overweight and obesity are progressively associated with lower work ability in the general working population: cross-sectional study among 10,000 adults

PURPOSE

Obesity is associated with many diseases and functional limitations. Workplaces are not always designed to accommodate this challenge. This study investigated the association between body mass index (BMI) and work ability in the general working population.

METHODS

Currently employed wage earners (N = 10,427) from the 2010 round of the Danish Work Environment Cohort Study (DWECS) replied to questions about work and health. Cumulative logistic regression analyses controlling for age, gender, physical and psychosocial work factors, lifestyle, and chronic diseases modeled the associations between BMI and work ability.

RESULTS

BMIs above the normal range were progressively associated with lower work ability in relation to the physical demands of the job. Odds ratios for having lower work ability were 1.11 (95% CI 1.01-1.22), 1.17 (95% CI 1.01-1.34), 1.43 (95% CI 1.09-1.88), 1.69 (95% CI 1.10-2.62) for overweight and obesity classes I, II, and III, respectively. In subgroup analyses, the associations between BMI and work ability were more pronounced among individuals with mainly sedentary work than among those with physically active work. BMI was not associated with work ability in relation to the mental demands of the work.

CONCLUSIONS

BMIs above the normal range are progressively associated with lower work ability in relation to the physical demands of the job, especially among individuals with mainly sedentary work. Ergonomic research on how to optimally design workstations for workers with obesity are needed.

Screen Time, Other Sedentary Behaviours, and Obesity Risk in Adults: A Review of Reviews

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The aim of this paper is to assess the association between sedentary behaviours, including screen time, and risk of obesity in adults. A review of 10 systematic reviews was undertaken.

RECENT FINDINGS

Available evidence is generally not supportive of associations between sedentary behaviour and obesity in adults. Most studies that found significant associations indicated mostly small effect sizes. Somewhat more consistent associations were shown for screen time (mainly TV viewing), among older adults, and for pre-adult sedentary behaviour to increase the risk of obesity in adulthood. Some evidence also exists for breaks in sedentary time to be associated with a more favourable BMI, and for use of a car to be associated with greater risk of obesity. There is limited evidence for an association between sedentary behaviour in adulthood and obesity and any association that exists does not seem to be causal. Future research is required investigating potentially positive effects for frequent breaks from sitting, less car use, and an uncoupling of TV viewing and dietary intake.

Economic Burden of Obesity: A Systematic Literature Review

Background: The rising prevalence of obesity represents an important public health issue. An assessment of its costs may be useful in providing recommendations for policy and decision makers. This systematic review aimed to assess the economic burden of obesity and to identify, measure and describe the different obesity-related diseases included in the selected studies. Methods: A systematic literature search of studies in the English language was carried out in Medline (PubMed) and Web of Science databases to select cost-of-illness studies calculating the cost of obesity in a study population aged ≥18 years with obesity, as defined by a body mass index of ≥30 kg/m², for the whole selected country. The time frame for the analysis was January 2011 to September 2016. Results: The included twenty three studies reported a substantial economic burden of obesity in both developed and developing countries. There was considerable heterogeneity in methodological approaches, target populations, study time frames, and perspectives. This prevents an informative comparison between most of the studies. Specifically, there was great variety in the included obesity-related diseases and complications among the studies. Conclusions: There is an urgent need for public health measures to prevent obesity in order to save societal resources. Moreover, international consensus is required on standardized methods to calculate the cost of obesity to improve homogeneity and comparability. This aspect should also be considered when including obesity-related diseases.