Obesity can place undue strain on the heart, joints and spine,
increase the risk of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and other
conditions, and may contribute to workplace absenteeism according
to a bulletin released today by the Australian Institute of Health
and Welfare (AIHW).
Obesity and workplace absenteeism among older
Australians examines the relationship between obesity and
workplace absenteeism in almost 10,000 employed men and women,
using data from Australia's 2001 National Health Survey.
'The analysis indicates that in general obese workers are more
likely to be absent from work due to personal illness or injury
than non-obese workers, and for a longer time when they are,' Ms
Ann Peut, Head of the Institute's Ageing and Aged Care Unit
explained.
Obese employees were 17% more likely than non-obese employees to
have been absent from work as a result of illness or injury at
least one day during the two weeks prior to being interviewed.
Of people who missed work for these reasons, obese employees
tended to have more days off than non-obese employees - four days
compared to three days.
'These differences suggest that absenteeism related to illness
or injury associated with obesity may account for over 4 million
lost work days per year,' Ms Peut said.
Also of note was the discovery that obese people were 8% more
likely to be 'not in the labour force' than non-obese people and
the issue appears to compound with age.
Mature age workers (defined as 45-64 years) comprise almost a
third of the Australian labour force, yet older Australians who
were obese were 20% less likely to be employed full-time than their
non-obese counterparts.
Employees aged 55-64 were less likely to be absent from work for
their own illness or injury than their younger counterparts but
were away for longer when they were absent, regardless of whether
or not they were obese.
'The evidence all suggests that obesity may be influencing
absenteeism and preventing workers from staying in the workforce;
most likely because of the strong correlation between obesity and
chronic diseases and injury,' Ms Peut said.
The issue of obesity, ill-health and workforce participation is
particularly relevant in view of Australia's ageing population and
the current debate about enabling mature age workers who want to
continue to work, to do so.
Australian Health Ministers through the National Obesity
Taskforce are developing a framework of actions to address
overweight and obesity in adults and older Australians.
10 November 2005
Further information: Ann Peut, AIHW, mob. 0419
296 053.
For media copies of the report: Publications
Officer, AIHW, tel 61 2 6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications
Catalogue for availability of Obesity and workplace
absenteeism among older Australians.