For Quick Alerts
ALLOW NOTIFICATIONS  
For Daily Alerts

Chronic Job Stress Causes Obesity

By Devaki

The stressful working conditions and lack of exercise have been strongly associated with being overweight or obese , says the health experts.

The researchers found that around 72 to 75 percent of the employees participated the surveys were overweight or obese. The research was linked with the high job pressure with cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, depression, exhaustion, anxiety and weight gain.

The diet rich with fruits and vegetables has little effect in offsetting the effect of chronic job stress on weight gain among the employees, who were mostly sedentary.

On the other hand, exercise appeared to be significant in dealing with stress and keeping a healthy weight.


“In the poor economy, the companies should take care of the people who survive layoffs and end up staying in stressful jobs. It is important to focus on strengthening wellness programs to provide good nutrition, ways to deal with job demands, and more opportunities for physical activity that are built into the regular workday without penalty," says the epidemiologist Diana Fernandez, who participated the study. Diana is working with the Department of Community and Preventive Medicine, at the University of Rochester Medical Center.

The researchers say that more investigation is required also in the aspects of adults, tending to eat more fatty foods while watching TV.

The Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, published the research.

Story first published: Tuesday, May 25, 2010, 14:45 [IST]
Read more about: weight anxiety obesity stress