Abstract
This study examined how higher body mass index (BMI) affects the work hours of men and women and how the impact varies by gender and the value of BMI. Using a longitudinal dataset of 1603 British adults (men: n = 775; women: n = 828) and a panel threshold regression model, this study estimated that BMI has significant impacts on work hours but the pattern is different by gender and BMI groups. BMI is positively associated with work hours up to the estimated BMI threshold of 30, which corresponds to the clinical cutoff point of obesity; above this point, additional increases in BMI is associated with reduced work hours. The asymmetric nonlinear relationship between BMI and work hours was more evident among women, particularly female low-skilled workers. The results imply reduced work capacity and lower labor income for women with a higher BMI above an obesity threshold, highlighting a practical role of BMI’s obesity cutoff value. The findings of this study provide a new perspective regarding the economic burden of workplace obesity and point out the need to design gender-specific and BMI-based strategies to tackle productivity loss from obesity.
Highlights
With a rapid increase in obesity worldwide, we are seeing increasing scholarly attention paid to its detrimental economic impact
For female workers in column 1, we can see that body mass index (BMI) is positively associated with work hours; a higher BMI is associated with longer work hours
The current study provides practical guidelines based on BMI thresholds and job skill level to identify workers who are at greater risk of bearing economic burden from obesity
Summary
With a rapid increase in obesity worldwide, we are seeing increasing scholarly attention paid to its detrimental economic impact. 15.6 percent to 39.8 percent between 1988 and 2016 in the United States and from 15 percent to 26 percent between 1993 and 2016 in England [1,2,3] This increased obesity prevalence has reduced labor market participation and the disability-free life years of workers, decreasing the productive workforce and the potential economic output [4,5]. It is worrisome that obesity’s total economic cost exceeds medical costs [5] and indirect costs arise from consequent productivity losses. According to Dee et al [10], such indirect costs account for 60 percent of the total costs of being overweight or obese
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