How unhealthy lifestyle damages work
Tuesday September 28th, 2010
Workers with unhealthy lifestyles give reduced productivity - only partly because of high rates of sick leave, researchers warn today.
Most
workers who are obese have underlying health problems whilst smokers are
20 per cent less productive than others, Dutch researchers found.
The findings come from a study of more than 10,000 workers conducted over five years.
The researchers found that an obese worker is 55 per cent more likely than others to take five weeks or more a year in sick leave. And smokers also take more time for sickness.
The only "unhealthy" habit that could improve productivity was drinking.
People who drank ten or more glasses of alcohol weekly were found to be less likely to take sick leave.
The study found that obesity, poor diet, inadequate exercise and smoking was responsible for 11 per cent of staff sick days.
The findings are reported in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
Researcher Professor Alex Burdorf writes: "More than ten per cent of sick leave and the higher levels of productivity loss at work may be attributed to lifestyle behaviours and obesity.
"Primary interventions on lifestyle may contribute to maintaining a productive workforce."
Occup Environ Med 2010; doi 10.1136/oem.2010.055962
Tags: Diet & Food | Drug and Alcohol Abuse | Europe | Fitness
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