An interesting study done on the Australians workers has suggested that the workplace may play an important role in the growing problem of overweight and obesity. The current study examined the role of occupational workplace and the body mass index. In the present day, lack of physical activity and irregular food intake are some of the established problems of certain occupation. As a result we are seeing a rise in the occurrence of some of the diseases such as diabetes, CHD etc.
The present study was conducted by collecting information on age, occupation, physical activity, sitting time at the workplace and the Body Mass Index from a sample of 1579 Australian adult men and women who were working full time. The result of the analysis showed that mean occupational sitting time was more than 3 hours a day. This sitting time was significantly more in males than females. Another interesting finding from the study was that Body Mass Index of more than 25 was associated significantly with more sitting time in the workplace only in males. This finding was not found in females. The Body Mass Index in men of more than 25 was higher among those who sat for more than 6 hours a day as compared to those who reported sitting for less than 45 minutes a day.The study has clearly highlighted the association between occupational sitting time and overweight and obesity in full time employed men. This finding calls for health promotional activities at the workplace also.
