A recent study conducted by Statistics Canada reveals obese Canadian males aged between 18 to 34-years, are four times more likely to miss work than co-workers of normal weight. The research shows obesity is a significant contributor to 'presenteeism', even reduced work activity on the job, particularly among women.

According to the study, long-term health problems among obese women aged 35-64 and obese men aged 55 to 64, led to a greater 'reduced work activities' tendency, with obese women 'significantly more likely' to take a disability day, spending the day in bed or reducing normal activities due to illness or injury, as compared to their more normal-weight colleagues.

Since the 12.5% of mid-1990s, according to the study, obesity rates have climbed to 15.7% in 2005 and '.can cause personal stress and long-term health problems; moreover, it can lead to significant societal costs by reducing labour market productivity.'

It has also been found that obesity not only poses higher job strain for workers, such as, high psychological demands combined with low job control, many workers feel colleagues and supervisors provide inadequate social support at work.

Apparently, it seems obesity not only poses problems at work; but the type of work you do could actually be the cause of your obesity, with shift work and excessive hours increasingly associated with obesity. Further, the StatsCan study reveals, a higher proportion of blue-collar workers to be obese, as compared to men in white-collar jobs.

Interestingly, a recent research suggests that while low-income translates into higher obesity rates in women, the reverse is the case for men, with high personal income linked to obesity. This is because men with higher-incomes tend to dine out more often, leading to weight problems.

As well, low education also significantly raises the odds for obesity in both men and women, with the exception of 18 to 34-year old workers. Take for example, 35 to
54-year old workers with less than a high school education are 1.6-times more likely to be obese, opposed to workers who have completed postsecondary education.

More specifically, what the study implies is that there are multiple potential benefits to reducing or preventing obesity in the workplace, such as, better health and well-being, including higher productivity and better job performance.

'It may be cost-effective for employers to actively sponsor health promotion initiatives in the workplace, including weight maintenance program,' the authors of the study write.