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International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health

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01-01-2010 | Original Article

Overweight and obesity among Dutch workers: differences between occupational groups and sectors

Authors: Karin I. Proper, Vincent H. Hildebrandt

Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health | Issue 1/2010

Abstract

Purpose

To describe the prevalence of overweight and obesity among different occupational groups and sectors in a representative sample of the Dutch working population, and to test whether these differences still exist after adjustment for socio-demographic variables.

Methods

Cross-sectional data among 7,588 working adults were used. Univariate analyses of variance was performed to test differences in body mass index (BMI) values between occupational groups (n = 7) and sectors (n = 28). Adjusted analyses were carried out to examine the role of socio-demographic factors in the differences in overweight and obesity between occupational groups and sectors.

Results

On average, the mean BMI was 24.3 kg/m² with 31% being overweight and 6% being obese. Those working in trade, industrial, or transportation occupations as well as the legislators and senior managers had the highest BMI and a relatively high prevalence of overweight (36.7 and 35.5%, respectively) and obesity (6.9 and 7.5%, respectively). In contrast, those working in scientific and artistic professions had the most favorable BMI profile with 25.7% being overweight and 4.2% being obese. After adjusting for sex, age, and education, the proportion of variance changed from about 0.01 to 0.10 with age being the main contributor of the differences in overweight and obesity.

Conclusions

BMI profile and prevalence of overweight and obesity differs between occupations and sectors. Despite the differences are explained partly by socio-demographic factors, based on a given distribution of age, sex, and education within each occupational group and sector, occupational group- and sector-specific strategies to prevent and reduce overweight are recommended.

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Title: Overweight and obesity among Dutch workers: differences between occupational groups and sectors
Authors: Karin I. Proper
Vincent H. Hildebrandt
Publication date: 01-01-2010
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health / Issue 1/2010
Print ISSN: 0340-0131
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1246
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-009-0438-1

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Overweight and obesity among Dutch workers: differences between occupational groups and sectors

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

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Results

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