Body Mass Index (BMI) and Work Ability in Older Workers: Results from the Health and Employment after Fifty (HEAF) Prospective Cohort Study
This study explores associations between BMI and prolonged sickness absence; cutting down at work; and health-related job loss (HRJL) over two years of follow-up among workers aged ≥50 years. A cohort of 2299 men and 2425 women (aged 50−64 years) self-reported height and weight a...
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doaj-6b9dbb02640e4b08af878f96cb7ed9892020-11-24T21:53:48ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health1660-46012020-03-01175164710.3390/ijerph17051647ijerph17051647Body Mass Index (BMI) and Work Ability in Older Workers: Results from the Health and Employment after Fifty (HEAF) Prospective Cohort StudyCatherine H Linaker0Stefania D’Angelo1Holly E Syddall2E Clare Harris3Cyrus Cooper4Karen Walker-Bone5MRC Versus Arthritis Centre for Musculoskeletal Health and Work, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton SO16 6YD, UKMRC Versus Arthritis Centre for Musculoskeletal Health and Work, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton SO16 6YD, UKMRC Versus Arthritis Centre for Musculoskeletal Health and Work, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton SO16 6YD, UKMRC Versus Arthritis Centre for Musculoskeletal Health and Work, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton SO16 6YD, UKMedical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton SO16 6YD, UKMRC Versus Arthritis Centre for Musculoskeletal Health and Work, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton SO16 6YD, UKThis study explores associations between BMI and prolonged sickness absence; cutting down at work; and health-related job loss (HRJL) over two years of follow-up among workers aged ≥50 years. A cohort of 2299 men and 2425 women (aged 50−64 years) self-reported height and weight at baseline and provided information about work ability at 12 and 24 months for the Health and Employment after Fifty (HEAF) Study. Associations between BMI and work ability were assessed by logistic regression and HRJL by multiple-record Cox’s proportional hazards models, with adjustment for other risk factors. The prevalence of obesity/severe obesity was 22.6%/1.2% amongst men and 21.4%/2.6% amongst women, respectively. In men and women, obesity and severe obesity predicted having to cut down at work for health over two years. In women, severe obesity predicted prolonged sickness absence, and also HRJL even after adjustment for age, proximity to retirement, financial difficulties, and lifestyle factors (hazard ratio [HR] 2.93, 95% CI 1.38, 6.23), and additional adjustment for health conditions (HR 2.52, 95% CI 1.12, 5.67). Obesity, and particularly severe obesity, negatively impacts work ability amongst people aged 50−64 years, with greatest effects in women. Obesity can be expected to hinder attempts to encourage work to older ages.https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/5/1647body mass indexolder workerobesitywork abilityhealth-related job losssickness absence |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Catherine H Linaker Stefania D’Angelo Holly E Syddall E Clare Harris Cyrus Cooper Karen Walker-Bone |
spellingShingle |
Catherine H Linaker Stefania D’Angelo Holly E Syddall E Clare Harris Cyrus Cooper Karen Walker-Bone Body Mass Index (BMI) and Work Ability in Older Workers: Results from the Health and Employment after Fifty (HEAF) Prospective Cohort Study International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health body mass index older worker obesity work ability health-related job loss sickness absence |
author_facet |
Catherine H Linaker Stefania D’Angelo Holly E Syddall E Clare Harris Cyrus Cooper Karen Walker-Bone |
author_sort |
Catherine H Linaker |
title |
Body Mass Index (BMI) and Work Ability in Older Workers: Results from the Health and Employment after Fifty (HEAF) Prospective Cohort Study |
title_short |
Body Mass Index (BMI) and Work Ability in Older Workers: Results from the Health and Employment after Fifty (HEAF) Prospective Cohort Study |
title_full |
Body Mass Index (BMI) and Work Ability in Older Workers: Results from the Health and Employment after Fifty (HEAF) Prospective Cohort Study |
title_fullStr |
Body Mass Index (BMI) and Work Ability in Older Workers: Results from the Health and Employment after Fifty (HEAF) Prospective Cohort Study |
title_full_unstemmed |
Body Mass Index (BMI) and Work Ability in Older Workers: Results from the Health and Employment after Fifty (HEAF) Prospective Cohort Study |
title_sort |
body mass index (bmi) and work ability in older workers: results from the health and employment after fifty (heaf) prospective cohort study |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |
issn |
1660-4601 |
publishDate |
2020-03-01 |
description |
This study explores associations between BMI and prolonged sickness absence; cutting down at work; and health-related job loss (HRJL) over two years of follow-up among workers aged ≥50 years. A cohort of 2299 men and 2425 women (aged 50−64 years) self-reported height and weight at baseline and provided information about work ability at 12 and 24 months for the Health and Employment after Fifty (HEAF) Study. Associations between BMI and work ability were assessed by logistic regression and HRJL by multiple-record Cox’s proportional hazards models, with adjustment for other risk factors. The prevalence of obesity/severe obesity was 22.6%/1.2% amongst men and 21.4%/2.6% amongst women, respectively. In men and women, obesity and severe obesity predicted having to cut down at work for health over two years. In women, severe obesity predicted prolonged sickness absence, and also HRJL even after adjustment for age, proximity to retirement, financial difficulties, and lifestyle factors (hazard ratio [HR] 2.93, 95% CI 1.38, 6.23), and additional adjustment for health conditions (HR 2.52, 95% CI 1.12, 5.67). Obesity, and particularly severe obesity, negatively impacts work ability amongst people aged 50−64 years, with greatest effects in women. Obesity can be expected to hinder attempts to encourage work to older ages. |
topic |
body mass index older worker obesity work ability health-related job loss sickness absence |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/5/1647 |
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