[Why an accurate diet for employees]

Abstract

A study leaded in 2005 by the ILO on diet habits in different countries pointed out that poor diet at the workplace (leading to malnutrition or overweight and obesity) costs up to 20% & in lost productivity. Obesity is a major cause for absenteeism and can modify physiologic and immune responses to neurotoxins and chemical agents. Obese subjects show a higher risk to develop cardiovascular diseases, musculoskeletal disorders, due to exposure to vibrations, etc; quite often these workers are discriminated, are more sensitive to work-related stress and might experience a reduced self-esteem. Obesity can cause relevant working handicaps linked to reduction of agility, to early fatigue and to difficulties in identifying and use of suitable PPE. As a consequence, obese workers show a higher rate of work accidents and may receive some restrictions in the fitness assessment carried out by the occupational health physician during periodical examinations.