Prevalence of Obesity by Occupation Among US Workers: The National Health Interview Survey 2004–2011

OBJECTIVE:To estimate the prevalence of obesity and the change of prevalence of obesity between 2004−2007 and 2008−20011 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/...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of occupational and environmental medicine 2014-05, Vol.56 (5), p.516-528
Main Authors: Gu, Ja K., Charles, Luenda E., Bang, Ki Moon, Ma, Claudia C., Andrew, Michael E., Violanti, John M., Burchfiel, Cecil M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Biological and medical sciences
Body mass index
Ethnicity
Female
Health Surveys
Humans
Intervention
Male
Medical sciences
Metabolic diseases
Middle Aged
Obesity
Obesity - epidemiology
Occupational health
Occupational medicine
Occupations
Original Article
Prevalence
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
United States - epidemiology
Workers
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Summary:OBJECTIVE:To estimate the prevalence of obesity and the change of prevalence of obesity between 2004−2007 and 2008−20011 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.
ISSN:1076-2752
1536-5948
DOI:10.1097/JOM.0000000000000133