NIOSHTIC-2 Publications Search

Prevalence of obesity by occupation among US workers: the National Health Interview Survey 2004-2011.

Gu JK; Charles LE; Bang KM; Ma CC; Andrew ME; Violanti JM; Burchfiel CM

J Occup Environ Med 2014 May; 56(5):516-528

https://doi.org/10.1097/jom.0000000000000133

20044112

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of obesity and the change of prevalence of obesity between 2004-2007 and 2008-2011 by occupation among US workers in the National Health Interview Survey. METHODS: Self-reported weight and height were collected and used to assess obesity (body mass index >/= 30 kg/m). Gender-, race/ethnicity-, and occupation-specific prevalence of obesity were calculated. RESULTS: Prevalence of obesity steadily increased from 2004 through 2008 across gender and race/ethnicity but leveled off from 2008 through 2011. Non-Hispanic black female workers in health care support (49.2%) and transportation/material moving (46.6%) had the highest prevalence of obesity. Prevalence of obesity in relatively low-obesity (white-collar) occupations significantly increased between 2004-2007 and 2008-2011, whereas it did not change significantly in high-obesity (blue-collar) occupations. CONCLUSIONS: Workers in all occupational categories are appropriate targets for health promotion and intervention programs to reduce obesity.

Body-weight; Workers; Humans; Men; Women; Statistical-analysis; Racial-factors; Transportation-industry; Materials-transport; Surveillance

Ja K. Gu, MSPH, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, HELD/BEB, Mailstop L-4050, 1095 Willowdale Rd, Morgantown, WV 26505

JOEMFM

20140501

Journal Article

jgu@cdc.gov

Grant

2014

Grant-Number-R01-OH-009640; M042014

5

1076-2752

HELD; DRDS

Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

WV; NY

State University of New York at Buffalo