Fat staff are twice as likely to take time off sick, report finds
https://mol.im/a/13410109
by DryConstruction7000
Fat staff are twice as likely to take time off sick, report finds
https://mol.im/a/13410109
by DryConstruction7000
14 comments
>’sick note culture’.
How you know you’ve internalized capitalism …
Article text…
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**Obese Brits put the whole country in the slow lane: Fat staff are twice as likely to take time off sick and are ‘seriously hampering economic growth’, report finds**
*By Kate Pickles Health Editor For The Daily Mail*
*00:05 13 May 2024, updated 01:35 13 May 2024*
Time off work for obesity-related illness is seriously hampering economic growth, a landmark study warns today.
Those who are overweight – nearly four in ten Brits – are 22 per cent more likely to have taken off at least seven days in a year for illness, according to a data analysis representing 147 million working people across Europe.
When combined with those who are obese, it means up to 60 per cent of the nation may be taking sick leave because of weight-related issues, such as diabetes or heart disease.
The data showed people with obesity are up to twice as likely to be off sick than those of a healthy weight. In the first detailed breakdown of how sick days vary according to weight, researchers revealed the UK is ‘among the worst’ of 28 countries examined for obesity absenteeism.
Experts said the findings, which are being presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Venice, reinforce how obesity has become the driving force behind ‘sick note culture’.
They warned it was one of the ‘gravest fiscal risks’ facing the UK economy, cementing our reputation as the ‘sick man of Europe’.
The Health Economics and Health Policy Research Group, Institute for Advanced Studies, Vienna, Austria, looked at national survey data from a sample of 122,598 people.
It asked those employed for details of work absence due to ill health over the past year.
Data for the UK showed that those classed as obese, with a BMI over 30, were almost a quarter (23 per cent) more likely to be absent from work for any period of time. Severely obese people – with a BMI over 40 – were more than twice as likely (118 per cent) to take time off.
Dr Thomas Czypionka, study co-author, said: ‘The problem with obesity is that there are so many health consequences that branch from being obese.
‘I don’t think that it is a good idea to just wait and let people get obese and then pay for the treatment and face all the consequences of them leaving the labour market.’
Last month, the Prime Minister announced plans to tackle a ‘sick note culture’ with sweeping reforms to the benefit system. But experts said the plans stand little chance of success unless ministers tackle obesity.
A report in December showed the UK has the third highest proportion of people with obesity in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, with an estimated yearly cost to the UK economy of £98billon.
Meanwhile, the latest data shows the number of sick notes issued by the NHS has doubled in a decade to 11 million last year.
Last week, a report by the Institute for Public Policy Research think tank said obesity was a ‘common factor’ underpinning all of the top reasons for long-term sickness in the UK, including musculoskeletal problems, heart disease and depression.
Katharine Jenner, director of the Obesity Health Alliance, said: ‘This research lays it bare – high rates of obesity-related disease is driving down economic productivity, with devastating economic impacts.’
A Government spokesman said: ‘Our £2.5billion Back to Work Plan will help over a million people, including those with long-term health conditions associated with obesity, to break down barriers to work.’
Most unnecessary study ever? Everyone who works knows this is the case.
I would be classed as obese, I have been off sick once in 35 years only because of a car accident that left me in hospital. I would put sick days down to lazy people who work the system more than obesity
Unhealthy people more likely to be ill, well I’ll be damned. At our workplace it’s the mothers who are worse for time off, but that’s not recorded as sick leave I suppose just unpaid leave.
The preventive care in this country is garbage. If your family history shows certain chronic conditions, chances are you’re going to get it and sometimes taking medications, getting tests, or doing certain things early on can be beneficial. But the NHS standards tend to be more of a treat the problems, don’t prevent them kind of care.
Time to put fat taxes on delivery apps, take out and fast food. While they’re at it, attach pictures of obese issues on every happy meal. After all, we should think of the children.
Tory government,”It’s not our fault ,here is someone else to blame our failures on”.I’m overweight and I knew this was coming.
Dumb question perhaps, but does that article even link to the study?
I’m sure there will be a healthy constructive debate in the comments about this one!
Wow unhealthy people are more likely to get sick, shocker…
Too many judgemental people don’t understand that Illness can *cause* people to gain weight.
I nearly always maintain a healthy weight. But when I was ill I put on a few stone: I was too ill to exercise and too ill to care about shopping & cooking. It was hard enough just to get by. I managed to turn up to work but my health was deteriorating. If my condition hadn’t improved I may well have ended up obese, with people saying “look at him. He’s unhealthy *because* he’s fat”.
People with long term debilitating illnesses are more likely to put on weight.
What are the chances that was factored in?
Okay? So? People who drive cars are more likely to get into an accident. Or are we only highlighting this to sacrifice more of our human rights an the altar of productive capitalism? Fat people aren’t asking for sympathy, just dignity.