Relationship of BMI increase to eating behavior and job stress in a 2-year cohort study of non-obese male Japanese workers

Abstract

To clarify the relation of weight gain to eating behavior and job stress through a 2-year cohort study of non-obese male Japanese workers. A survey of life style, eating behavior, and job stress was conducted in 2003 and 2005 using the same questionnaire. The subjects were 122 non-obese (BMI ≤ 24.9 kg/m(2)) male workers aged 21-60 years (mean age 35.3 ± 12.2 (S.D.) years) in a manufacturing industry in 2003. BMI was calculated from height and weight obtained from health examinations in 2003 and 2005. BMI changes over the 2 years were classified into three groups: decrease; no change or increase of BMI < 1 kg/m(2); and increase of BMI ≥ 1 kg/m(2). Weight gain over the 2 years was associated with the eating behavior of 'eating to satiety'. In the workers who gained BMI ≥ 1 kg/m(2), the score for 'eating to satiety' category increased over the 2 years, while no such trend was found in the subjects who lost weight or gained <1 kg/m(2). The score of eating to satiety in those who gained ≥1 kg/m(2) was also correlated with the psychological stress responses of tension/anxiety and depression, which were related to job demands positively and job latitudes negatively. The present study suggests that eating to satiety is a key eating behavior for weight gain in non-obese male Japanese workers. The eating behavior can be affected by psychological job stress responses such as tension/anxiety and depression. Workers feeling stressed may be more likely to develop their eating behavior to eat much and gain weight.