Title
Obesity/Overweight and the Role of Working Conditions: A Qualitative, Participatory Investigation
UMMS Affiliation
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Publication Date
2016-01-01
Document Type
Article
Disciplines
Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms | Community Health and Preventive Medicine | Medicine and Health | Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene | Public Health Education and Promotion | Translational Medical Research | Work, Economy and Organizations
Abstract
The rising U.S. prevalence of obesity has generated significant concern and demonstrates striking socioeconomic and racial/ethnic disparities. Most interventions target individual behaviors, sometimes in combination with improving the physical environment in the community but rarely involving modifications of the work environment. With 3.6 million workers earning at or below the federal minimum wage, it is imperative to understand the impact of working conditions on health and weight for lower income workers. To investigate this question, a university-community partnership created a participatory research team and conducted eight focus groups, in English and Spanish, with people holding low-wage jobs in various industries. Analysis of transcripts identified four themes: physically demanding work (illnesses, injuries, leisure-time physical activity), psychosocial work stressors (high demands, low control, low social support, poor treatment), food environment at work (available food choices, kitchen equipment), and time pressure (scheduling, having multiple jobs and responsibilities). Physical and psychosocial features of work were identified as important antecedents for overweight. In particular, nontraditional work shifts and inflexible schedules limited participants' ability to adhere to public health recommendations for diet and physical activity. Workplace programs to address obesity in low-wage workers must include the effect of working conditions as a fundamental starting point.
Keywords
UMCCTS funding
DOI of Published Version
10.1177/1524839915602439
Source
Health Promot Pract. 2016 Jan;17(1):127-36. doi: 10.1177/1524839915602439. Epub 2015 Sep 2. Link to article on publisher's site
Journal/Book/Conference Title
Health promotion practice
Related Resources
PubMed ID
26333770
Repository Citation
Nobrega, Suzanne; Champagne, Nicole J.; Abreu, Marlene; Goldstein-Gelb, Marcy; Montano, Mirna; Lopez, Isabel; Arevalo, Jonny; Bruce, Suezanne; and Punnett, Laura, "Obesity/Overweight and the Role of Working Conditions: A Qualitative, Participatory Investigation" (2016). UMass Center for Clinical and Translational Science Supported Publications. 94.
https://escholarship.umassmed.edu/umccts_pubs/94