Abstract
Background: Overweight has increased dramatically in the Western world during the
past decades. The condition is associated with impaired health through, e.g.,
cardiovascular disease, musculo-skeletal disorders, type II diabetes, sleep apnoea and
cancer. Apart from causing individual suffering, overweight incurs costs to society.
Aim: The aim of the present thesis was to investigate the association between
overweight and work absenteeism, as well as the related productivity losses to
society.
Methods: Data on individual characteristics, e.g. body mass index (BMI; kg/m2),
smoking, socio-economic index and muscular strength, as well as data on sick-leave,
disability pension and mortality, were obtained for 45 920 Swedish men performing
mandatory military service conscription tests in 1969/70 (mean age 18.7±0.5y)
through linkage of national registers. Overweight was classified into pre-obesity (BMI
25.0-29.9) and obesity (BMI≥30.0), while normal weight was defined as BMI 18.5-24.9.
Based on 38y of follow-up from time of conscription tests, overweight-related risks
compared to normal weight for sick-leave, disability pension and premature death
were estimated by the use of multivariable regression models. The related
productivity losses were estimated using the human capital approach.
Results: Compared to normal weight, overweight was found to be associated with
increased risk of work absenteeism, especially for longer episodes (including death).
During a lifetime, an obese individual was estimated to incur productivity losses to a
value of €95 000 (CI95% €89 000 - €103 000) to society, nearly twice as much as his
normal weight counterpart. Approximately 8% of future productivity losses among
young men today could be avoided, had no one been overweight.
Conclusion: Overweight-related costs of work absenteeism appear to be significant
and are important to consider in decision making. Effective overweight prevention has
the potential to substantially reduce productivity losses to society.
