Association of workplace chronic and acute stressors with employee weight status: Data from worksites in turmoil

Objectives: To examine the independent and joint effects of psychosocial chronic and acute stressors with weight status and to report the intraclass correlation coefficient for body mass index (BMI). Methods: Baseline data on 2782 employees from a group-randomized weight gain prevention intervention were examined to investigate the effect of high job strain and job insecurity on BMI and on the odds of overweight/obesity including potential confounders and mediating variables. Data were analyzed using mixed models. Results: The mediating variables removed the effect of high job strain on weight (β = 0.68, P = 0.07; odds ratios = 1.34, confidence interval = 1.00 to 1.80) whereas job insecurity was never significant. Intraclass correlation coefficient for BMI is 0.0195, 0.0193, and 0.0346 overall, for men and women, respectively. Conclusion: Worksite wellness should target health enhancing behaviors to minimize the health effects of psychosocial work conditions.