Relationship of obesity to job stress and eating behavior in male Japanese workers

Abstract

Objective: To examine a possible relationship between obesity, job stress, and eating behavior in male Japanese workers. Method: A questionnaire on life style, job stress, and eating behavior was conducted with 208 male workers aged 19-60 years (33.7712.3 years) in a manufacturing industry in Japan. Height and weight were measured in an annual health examination. The relation between obesity, job stress, and eating behavior were analyzed between 141 nonobese subjects (BMI p24.9 kg/ m 2 ) and 67 obese subjects (BMI X25.0 kg/m 2 ). Results: Obesity was associated with psychological stress responses of tension/anxiety, especially tension. Tension/anxiety was also related to job demands positively and job latitudes negatively. The eating behaviors of subjects with tension/anxiety resembled those of the obese subjects. Conclusions: The present study suggests that obese male Japanese workers tend to be in a stressful state from high job demands and low job latitudes in the workplace. Such stressful conditions may affect eating behaviors to eat much and contribute to obesity. Stress management might be necessary in the workplace for the prevention of obesity among male Japanese workers.

Association between Skin Condition and Sleep Efficiency in Japanese Young Adults

“…The Japanese food composition tables (16) were used as the database for the food composition tables. The data about habitual eating behavior in the previous month were obtained from the response to Sakata's Eating Behavior Questionnaire (17,18), which was developed to detect obesity-related eating behaviors. The details of the contents of the questionnaire have been shown in previous studies (17)(18)(19).…”

“…The data about habitual eating behavior in the previous month were obtained from the response to Sakata's Eating Behavior Questionnaire (17,18), which was developed to detect obesity-related eating behaviors. The details of the contents of the questionnaire have been shown in previous studies (17)(18)(19). Briefly, each of the 55 items on eating habits has been rated on a four-point scale ranging from "strongly disagree" to "strongly agree."…”

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

“…This might explain, in part, the mechanism underpinning the interactive effects proposed by Kivimäki et al (J Occup Health 2010; 52: 66-73) Key words: Body mass index, Hyperphagia, Obesity, Psychological stress When stressed, some people lose and other people gain weight 1) . Although some studies have found associations between stressful work environments and increased body mass index (BMI) [2][3][4][5][6][7] , others have reported no associations between these variables [8][9][10][11][12][13] . Moreover, a highly stressful work environment was associated with low BMIs in several samples 14,15) .…”

Weight Loss Approach during Routine Follow-up is Effective for Obstructive Sleep Apnea Hypopnea Syndrome Subjects Receiving Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Treatment

“…Weight loss approaches for obese workers with OSAHS are expected to improve worker's health condition as well as to prevent occupational accidents and to improve work productivity. There is also a possibility that increased workplace stress from job strain affects workers eating behaviors causing them to eat a lot and thus contributes to obesity among male Japanese workers 25,26) . To more effectively promote weight loss among obese workers with OSAHS, it might be necessary to add stress management in the workplace to weight loss approach.…”