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 (33.7+/-12.3 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 <or=24.9 kg/m(2)) and 67 obese subjects (BMI >or=25.0 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.