Relationships between work, lifestyles, and obesity: cross-sectional study based on the 2017 Spanish National Health Survey

Aims Overweight and obesity are affected by factors such as dietary transgressions and lack of exercise, as well as less obvious factors such as shift work and sedentary working. (i) To explore the associations between overweight and obesity (O/O) with working conditions such as type of job position, and work shifts; (ii) to know the associations between O/O with lifestyles (physical activity, eating habits, and tobacco and alcohol consumption). Methods and results A cross-sectional, population-based design was used based on the Spanish National Health Survey. The final sample consisted of 9097 workers aged between 18 and 65. The influence of the explanatory variables on the outcome variable (body mass index) was examined using logistic regression. The prevalence of O/O increased by 4% for every additional year of age (P < 0.001) and was 3.1 times more frequent among men (P < 0.001). It also was 20% higher in night work or rotating shifts (P < 0.01), and 14.9% lower in sedentary job positions (P < 0.05). Low consumption of the following foods was significantly associated with a reduction in O/O: meat (16.2%), fish (75.4%), cured meats (35.1%), dairy products (33.3%), and snacks (47.1%). Conclusion Age, men, engaging in moderate or low levels of physical activity, being an ex-smoker, working during the night or rotating shifts, holding a non-sedentary job position, having a low to moderate consumption of pasta, potatoes, and rice, a moderate consumption of bread and cereals, as well as dairy products, vegetables, sugary foods, and fast food, have been significantly associated with a higher prevalence of O/O. No relationships were identified between the consumption of alcohol, fruit, eggs, pulses, and sugary soft drinks.