Chronic work stress linked to general and central obesity

In the so-called Whitehall II population-based study including 6895 men and 3413 women aged 35-55 years, self-reported cumulative work stress was measured on 4 occasions over a 19-year period using the Job Strain Questionnaire to investigate the link between chronic work stress and obesity. A dose-response relation was observed between exposure to work stress and risk of general obesity as defined by BMI=30 kg/m2 and central obesity as defined by a waist circumference >102 cm in men and >88 cm in women. After adjustment for age, sex, and social position, the imputed odds ratios of BMI obesity for one, two, and three or more reports of work stress were 1.17, 1.24, and 1.73 (trend P<0.01). For waist obesity, the corresponding figures were 1.17, 1.41, and 1.61 (trend P<0.01). Chronic work stress appears to predict general and central obesity.

Abstract