The interplay of sleep duration, working hours, and obesity in Korean male workers: The 2010-2015 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Association of long working hours with visceral adiposity index, anthropometric indices, and weight management behaviors: a study of Korean workers

BACKGROUND

Long working hours constitute a significant public health risk. They may induce psychological stress or lead to behavioral changes, which, in turn, can contribute to the development of cardiovascular diseases and metabolic disorders. This study investigated the association of working hours with visceral adiposity index, anthropometric indices, and weight management behaviors.

METHODS

In total, 32 373 adult workers were included in this cross-sectional study. Chinese Visceral Adiposity Index (CVAI), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and body roundness index (BRI) were assessed. Weight management behaviors over the past year, including exercise, diet control, and medication use, were self-reported. Linear or logistic regression analyses were performed. Regression models were adjusted for sex, age, education level, income level, marital status, occupation type, and survey year.

RESULTS

Among the sample, 19.4% of adults worked for ≥ 55 h per week. Compared to working 35-40 h per week, working ≥ 55 h per week was associated with higher values of 2.57 (95% confidence interval [CI:] 0.95, 4.19) in CVAI, 0.29 (95% CI: 0.14, 0.43) in BMI, 0.67 (95% CI: 0.29, 1.06) in WC, 0.47 (95% CI: 0.24, 0.69) in WHtR, and 0.09 (95% CI: 0.05, 0.14) in BRI, respectively. Working ≥ 55 h per week, in comparison with working 35-40 h per week, was linked to reduced odds of engaging in exercise for weight management (odds ratio: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.70, 0.83).

CONCLUSIONS

Working hours are positively associated with CVAI, anthropometric indices, and a lower intention to engage in exercise for weight management.

The Association between Marital Status and Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Obesity was included in the International Classification of Diseases in 1990 as a chronic disease characterized by the excessive accumulation of body fat and a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 kg/m2.

AIM

This systematic review was aimed to examine the role of marital status in determining body mass index and the risk of obesity.

METHODS

We performed a systematic literature search using three databases (PubMed (Medline), Embase, and Google Scholar) with the search query.

RESULTS

Of the 105 studies included in the systematic review, 76 studies (72%) reported a greater risk of obesity in married individuals compared to unmarried individuals. A meta-analysis of 24 studies included a total population of 369,499 participants: 257,257 married individuals (40,896 of whom had obesity) and 112,242 comparison subjects (single, divorced, or widowed individuals, 15,084 of whom had obesity). Odds ratios for obesity found a significant pooled odds ratio for obesity in married individuals compared with controls (OR 1.70; 95% CI 1.38-2.10). The socioeconomic environment was not the same throughout the period of studies analyzed. The odds of obesity in married individuals during economic crises was greater than during the period between crises: OR 2.56 (95% CI 2.09-3.13) during crises vs. OR 1.55 (95% CI 1.24-1.95) between crises.

CONCLUSION

The results of this review confirm the importance of considering marital status in determining the risk of obesity.

The association between long working hours and obstructive sleep apnea assessed by STOP-BANG score: a cross-sectional study

PURPOSE

The relationship between night-shift work and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is well known, but that between OSA and long working hours is still unknown. This study explores the association between long working hours and OSA.

METHODS

Using cross-sectional Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2020 data, we made multiple logistic regression models to calculate odds ratios (ORs) between weekly working hours and STOP-BANG scores for OSA screening. Stratified regression models by night or rotating shift work were also made.

RESULTS

In an adjusted model of STOP-BANG high-risk versus low-risk groups, the OR in the group exceeding 40 h/wk was higher but not statistically significant, 1.19 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.66-2.15] compared to the group working 40 h/wk (standard working hours) or less. In the group exceeding 52 h/wk, the OR was 2.03 with statistical significance (95% CI 1.08-3.80). In the stratification analysis of daytime and night-shift work, the daytime worker results were similar to those in the non-stratified model. The point estimation values of ORs in the night-shift workers were higher than in the daytime workers; however, we did not observe a statistical significance.

CONCLUSION

Long working hours can increase the risk of OSA assessed by STOP-BANG scores.

The relationship between working hours and lifestyle behaviors: Evidence from a population-based panel study in Korea

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between working hours and lifestyle behaviors using data from a large nationally representative panel survey.

METHODS

We used the Korea Health Panel Study (KHPS) data from 2011 to 2014. Weekly working hours and lifestyle risk factors were assessed by questionnaires. Comparing to the reference group, the weekly working hours were 40 h per week, odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for smoking status, alcohol consumption status, and regular exercise status of other weekly working hours groups (<40, 40, 41-52, and >52) were calculated, using generalized estimating equation models considering repeated measures.

RESULTS

Our findings clearly showed a relationship between long working hours and unhealthy lifestyles, such as cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, and insufficient sleep. Additionally, weekly working hours are positively associated with the amount of smoking and drinking, and inversely associated with sleep duration among those who worked 40 h or more per week.

CONCLUSION

Long working hours are associated with unhealthy lifestyles, such as cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, and insufficient sleep.