Interactive Effects of Job Stress and Body Mass Index on Over‐eating

Dietary Patterns, Occupational Stressors and Body Composition of Hospital Workers: A Longitudinal Study Comparing before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic

This longitudinal study aimed to evaluate the association between dietary patterns and the body composition of hospital workers subjected to occupational stressors before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data on sociodemographic, occupational, lifestyle, anthropometric, food consumption and occupational stress were collected before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 218 workers from a private hospital in Santo Antônio de Jesus, Bahia, Brazil were included in the study. After evaluating the normality of the data, parametric or non-parametric tests were used to characterize the sample. Dietary pattern was defined with Exploratory Factor Analysis and Structural Equation Modeling was used to test the desired association. During the pandemic, work per shift increased by 8.2% (p = 0.004) and working hours > 40 h/week increased by 9.2% (p = 0.006). Despite the higher prevalence of low occupational stress (85.8% vs. 72.1%), high stress increased by 13.7% from 2019 to 2020 (p < 0.001) and 30.3% reported a positive mediating effect on the variables of body composition, body mass index (b = 0.478; p < 0.001), waist circumference (b = 0.395; p = 0.001), fat-free mass (b = 0.440; p = 0.001) and fat mass (b = -0.104; p = 0.292). Therefore, a dietary pattern containing high-calorie foods was associated with changes in the body composition of hospital workers, including occupational stressors as mediators of this relationship.

Is work-family conflict a pathway between job strain components and binge eating? A cross-sectional analysis from the ELSA-Brasil study

BACKGROUND

Job strain has been reported as a trigger for binge eating, yet the underlying mechanisms have been unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether work-family conflict is a pathway in the association between job strain and binge eating, considering the possible effect-modifying influence of body mass index (BMI).

METHODS

This cross-sectional analysis included 12,084 active civil servants from the multicenter Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil). Job strain was assessed using the Demand-Control-Support Questionnaire. Work-family conflict was considered as a latent variable comprising three items. Binge eating was defined as eating a large amount of food in less than 2 h at least twice a week in the last six months with a sense of lack of control over what and how much was eaten. Structural equation modelling was used to test the role of work-family conflict in the association between job strain and binge eating, stratifying for BMI.

RESULTS

For individuals of normal weight, positive associations were found between skill discretion and binge eating (standardized coefficient [SC] = 0.209, 95%CI = 0.022-0.396), and between psychological job demands and work-family conflict (SC = 0.571, 95%CI = 0.520-0.622), but no statistically significant indirect effect was found. In overweight individuals, psychological job demands, skill discretion, and work-family conflict were positively associated with binge eating (SC = 0.099, 95%CI = 0.005-0.193; SC = 0.175, 95%CI = 0.062-0.288; and SC = 0.141, 95%CI = 0.077-0.206, respectively). Also, work-family conflict was observed to be a pathway on the associations of psychological job demands and decision authority with binge eating (SC = 0.084, 95%CI = 0.045-0.122; and SC =  - 0.008, 95%CI =  - 0.015- - 0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Work-family conflict partly explains effects of high levels of psychological job demands and low levels of decision authority on binge eating among overweight individuals. Moreover, skill discretion is positively associated with binge eating, regardless of BMI category.

Fast eating is a strong risk factor for new-onset diabetes among the Japanese general population

Although many studies that have examined the relationship of type and amount of food and the frequency of eating with new onset of diabetes, there are few reports on the relationship between how meals are eaten, such as skipping breakfast, snacking or food ingestion speed, and the onset of diabetes. We investigated the relationship between eating speed, as well as other eating habits such as snacking and skip breakfast, and new onset of diabetes in a nation-wide Japanese cohort. We obtained data from the nation-wide annual health check program in Japan. In 197,825 participants without diabetes in 2008, questionnaires recorded data on the diet habits (eating speed, snack after supper or before sleep, and skipping breakfast) and unadjusted and multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models were used to measure the odds ratio of new-onset diabetes mellitus in a 3-year follow up. The proportion of fast eaters, those who snack after supper, snack before sleep, and skip breakfast was higher in the new-onset diabetes group than in the group who did not develop diabetes mellitus. As compared with the non-fast eater group, fast eaters were generally younger, had higher BMI, had more weight gain from 20 years onwards, and experienced frequent weight fluctuations of ≥3 kg within 1 year. The risk of fast eaters developing diabetes mellitus remained even after correction for multiple factors including age, body weight, rate of weight change, blood pressure, smoking, and alcohol consumption. No other eating habits were independent predictors for onset of diabetes mellitus. Results show that fast eating is a sole predisposing factor among eating habits for new-onset diabetes. Future studies were warranted to evaluate whether avoidance of fast eating is beneficial for prevention of diabetes mellitus.

Job strain and binge eating among Brazilian workers participating in the ELSA-Brasil study: does BMI matter?

Objective:

To assess the association between job strain and binge eating as well as the effect-modifying influence of body mass index (BMI) on this association.

Methods:

A total of 11,951 active civil servants from the multicenter Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil) was included in this cross-sectional analysis. Job strain was assessed using the Demand-Control-Support Questionnaire. Binge eating was defined as eating a large amount of food with a sense of lack of control over what and how much is eaten in less than 2 hours at least twice a week. Multiple logistic regression was used to determine the association between binge eating and job strain as well as its interaction with BMI.

Results:

After adjustment, and using low-strain job as the reference category, binge eating was associated with high-strain job (high demand/low control: odds ratio [OR]=1.58, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.26-1.98), active job (high demand/high control: OR=1.35, 95% CI 1.07-1.70), and passive job (low demand/low control: OR=1.24, 95% CI 1.01-1.53). Psychological job demands were positively associated with binge eating (OR=1.04, 95% CI 1.01-1.07), while greater job control and social support at work were each inversely associated with binge eating (OR=0.95, 95% CI 0.92-0.97 and OR=0.96, 95% CI 0.94-0.98, respectively). BMI modified the association between job strain and binge eating: Heavier psychological job demands were associated with higher odds of binge eating among obese participants, while a stronger inverse association between job control and binge eating was seen among slimmer participants.

Conclusions:

Job strain increases the odds of binge eating and this association is modified by BMI.

Effort–reward imbalance at work, over-commitment personality and diet quality in Central and Eastern European populations

The aims of this study were to investigate the associations between work stress defined by the effort–reward imbalance (ERI) model and diet quality and to examine the potential role of over-commitment (OC) personality in ERI–diet relationships. A cross-sectional study was conducted in random population samples of 6340 men and 5792 women (age 45–69 years) from the Czech Republic, Russia and Poland. Dietary data were collected using FFQ. The healthy diet indicator (HDI) was constructed using eight nutrient/food intakes (HDI components) to reflect the adherence to WHO dietary guideline. The extent of imbalance between effort and reward was measured by the effort:reward (ER) ratio; the effort score was the numerator and the reward score was multiplied by a factor adjusting for unequal number of items in the denominator. Logistic regression and linear regression were used to assess the associations between exposures (ER ratio and OC) and outcomes (HDI components and HDI) after adjustment for confounders and mediators. The results showed that high ER ratio and high OC were significantly associated with unhealthy diet quality. For a 1-sd increase in the ER ratio, HDI was reduced by 0·030 and 0·033 sd in men and women, and for a 1-sd increase in OC, HDI was decreased by 0·036 and 0·032 sd in men and women, respectively. The modifying role of OC in ERI–diet relationships was non-significant. To improve diet quality at workplace, a multiple-level approach combining organisational intervention for work stress and individual intervention for vulnerable personality is recommended.

Mental health promotion and illness prevention: a challenge for psychiatrists

Mental health is essential for individual and public health. To improve mental health, promotion, prevention, and the treatment of disease are required. These three kinds of interventions are interrelated but independent from one another. Although separate efforts for mental health promotion and prevention are needed as well as the public need of mental health promotion and well-being, psychiatrists usually are not accustomed to mental health promotion and prevention. This review introduces an overview of the concept, subjects according to target populations, and various intervention strategies for mental health promotion and prevention of mental illnesses. Based on literatures to date, understanding of developmental psychology, lifestyle medicine, and biopsychosocial contributors of mental health with a macroscopic perspective might help to practice mental health promotion and illness prevention.

Prevalência de transtornos alimentares em trabalhadores urbanos de município do Nordeste do Brasil

Este artigo tem por objetivo, estimar a prevalência de transtornos alimentares em trabalhadores residentes em área urbana de Feira de Santana, Bahia. Trata-se de estudo epidemiológico de corte transversal exploratório, incluindo 1.273 trabalhadores, aleatoriamente selecionados. Características sociodemográficas e do trabalho, hábitos de vida, aspectos psicossociais do trabalho e transtornos alimentares foram investigados. Foi predominante o sexo feminino (60,2%), os mais jovens (51,7% tinham até 35 anos), casados (53,1%), de cor parda (55,2%), com ensino médio (51,5%) e com baixa renda (81,2%). As prevalências de Transtorno da Compulsão Alimentar Periódica e Bulimia Nervosa foram, respectivamente, 4,3% e 1,0%. As prevalências foram mais elevadas entre os que apresentaram consumo abusivo de álcool, insatisfação com o peso, história de agressão na infância, problema financeiro/preocupações, pertenciam aos setores de serviços domésticos e comércio, os que tinham vínculo informal de trabalho e os que estavam no grupo de trabalho de alta exigência. Além de investigar a relação entre os transtornos alimentares e o trabalho, obteve-se dados sobre esses transtornos em estudo de base populacional. Espera-se que os achados obtidos possam fomentar políticas de saúde para os transtornos alimentares.

Association between lifetime stress and obesity in Canadians

BACKGROUND

Obesity has been linked to stress, but there is lack of strong evidence from general populations.

METHODS

The analysis was based on data from 112,716 Canadians aged 18 years or more who participated in a national survey conducted in 2007-2008. A questionnaire covered the information on self-perceived lifetime stress, height, and weight. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the association between chronic stress and obesity.

RESULTS

The crude prevalence of obesity was 18.1% for men and 16.0% for women. A small proportion (3.7%) of the participants reported being extremely stressed most days in their lives and 19.1% reported being quite a bit stressed, and the proportions of stress were slightly higher in women than in men. Overall, those who reported being extremely stressed (adjusted OR: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.13, 1.35) or those who reported being quite a bit stressed (adjusted OR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.15) had an increased risk of obesity compared with who were not at all stressed. The adjusted odds ratio was 1.44 (95% CI: 1.13, 1.35) for women who were extremely stressed compared with women who were not at all stressed.

CONCLUSION

Lifetime stress was associated with an increased risk of obesity especially in women.

Occupational burnout, eating behavior, and weight among working women

BACKGROUND

Eating behavior affects weight and thus the development of obesity. Studies on the effect of occupational burnout (exhaustive fatigue, cynicism, and lost occupational self-respect caused by chronic work stress) on eating behavior are lacking.

OBJECTIVE

The objective was to investigate associations between occupational burnout, eating behavior, and weight among working women.

DESIGN

A total of 230 working women participated in a randomized controlled intervention trial (Nuadu) that aimed at changing the health behaviors of those with health risks. We assessed eating behavior using the Three-Factor Eating Behavior Questionnaire 18 and burnout using the Bergen Burnout Indicator 15 at both baseline and 12 mo. Body weight and percentage body fat were also measured at baseline and at 12 mo. The intervention and control groups were combined and divided by burnout and weight-change variables.

RESULTS

Women experiencing burnout at baseline had significantly higher scores in emotional eating (EE; P = 0.002) and uncontrolled eating (UE; P = 0.001) than did those without burnout. A significant difference was found between the change in UE from baseline to 12 mo in those with and without burnout (P = 0.05). UE decreased significantly among those without burnout at baseline (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Those experiencing burnout may be more vulnerable to EE and UE and have a hindered ability to make changes in their eating behavior. We recommend that burnout should be treated first and that burnout and eating behavior should be evaluated in obesity treatment.

Occupational factors associated with 4-year weight gain in Australian adults

OBJECTIVE

This article examined whether occupational factors predicted 4-year change in body mass index (BMI) in a sample of full-time Australian employees.

METHODS

Data from 1670 full-time Australian employees were collected through the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine whether several occupational factors at baseline predicted changes in BMI at 4-year follow up; several health and demographic covariates were controlled.

RESULTS

Inflexible working hours (odds ratio = 1.54, 95% confidence interval [1.14 to 2.09]) and weekend work (odds ratio = 1.33, 95% confidence interval [1.04 to 1.68]) significantly predicted increased BMI.

CONCLUSIONS

This article demonstrates that certain occupational factors (ie, inflexible work hours and weekend work) significantly predicted increased BMI. Targeting these factors may play a role in combating obesity and related health problems among employees.