A global collaboration of researchers has identified a correlation between extended work shifts and elevated obesity rates observed in nations such as the United States, Mexico, and Colombia. The findings of this study were unveiled at the European Congress on Obesity, held in Istanbul, as reported by The Guardian.
The primary culprits identified by the investigators are the scarcity of time available for physical exercise and the strain stemming from excessive working hours. Simultaneously, an examination of data spanning 33 OECD nations from 1990 to 2022 revealed that a 1% reduction in annual working hours corresponds to a 0.16% decrease in obesity levels.
The lead author, Dr. Pradeepa Korale-Gedara from the University of Queensland in Australia, elaborated that employment increases cortisol levels, a hormone that encourages fat accumulation. Conversely, she noted that a well-rounded lifestyle lessens susceptibility to stress, fostering improved dietary choices and physical activity.
However, the scientists themselves are careful to point out that their research does not definitively prove a direct link between the standard five-day work week and obesity, given that other variables also influence the outcomes. Factors such as disparities in national income, for instance, are among these interacting elements.
The conclusions drawn by the researchers have fueled the ongoing debate regarding a four-day work week within the United Kingdom. James Reeves, the head of the 4 Day Week Foundation campaign, posits that such a schedule would “drastically cut obesity” by affording individuals the necessary time to cultivate beneficial habits. Psychologist Dr. Rita Fontinha from the University of Reading adds that when time is limited, people resort to convenience foods, experience poorer sleep, and reduce their movement.
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