"Was Dad's Belly Fat Caused by Work?" ... The Longer the Working Hours, the Higher the Obesity Rate [Health Issue]

\r\n
[Financial News] A study has drawn attention by finding that the longer people work, the higher the national obesity rate becomes.
\r\n\r\n
\r\nAccording to Yonhap News Agency and others, a research team led by Pradipa Korale Gedara at The University of Queensland (UQ) in Australia said that an analysis of data from 33 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries from 1990 to 2022 found that a 1% decrease in annual working hours lowers the obesity rate by 0.16%.
Using public data from the OECD, the World Bank, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the team comprehensively considered factors such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), urbanization rates, and food prices across the 33 OECD countries. It then analyzed how differences in working hours affected obesity rates by country.
The results showed that when annual working hours fell by 1%, the overall obesity rate dropped by an average of 0.16%. The effect was especially pronounced among men. If working hours were reduced by 1%, obesity rates fell by 0.23% for men and 0.11% for women.
The researchers explained that long working hours can increase the risk of obesity by reducing physical activity, encouraging unhealthy eating habits, and raising stress levels.
The findings also varied depending on the period analyzed.
From 1990 to 2010, the obesity-reduction effect of shorter working hours was relatively large, but from 2000 to 2022, the effect became somewhat smaller. The team said this may be because expanded public health policies, improved health awareness, and changes in social norms helped slow the rise in obesity after 2000.
\r\n\r\n
Income levels and urbanization rates were also associated with obesity rates.
When GDP per capita rose by 1%, the obesity rate fell by 0.112% overall, including 0.16% for men and 0.11% for women. When the urbanization rate, or the share of people living in cities, increased by 1%, obesity rates for both men and women fell by 0.02%. However, the trend varied somewhat depending on each country's culture and infrastructure.
The researchers emphasized that this study suggests the relationship between working hours and obesity is complex and influenced by a range of socioeconomic and cultural factors. They added that policy responses must accompany individual behavior changes to effectively address obesity. They also noted that an integrated approach is needed, one that covers labor market structures, urban design, and food system management.
Meanwhile, the study will be presented at the European Association for the Study of Obesity (ECO) conference, which will be held in Istanbul, Turkey, from the 12th to the 15th.
\r\n
newssu@fnnews.com Kim Su-yeon Reporter