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Kim, Kim, Kim, Jang, and Koo: Influence of Job Stress Change on Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist Circumference among Male White-Collar Workers: A Two-Year Longitudinal Study
Original Article
Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2012; 24(2): 180-188.

Published online: 30 June 2012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.0000/kjoem.2012.24.2.180

Influence of Job Stress Change on Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist Circumference among Male White-Collar Workers: A Two-Year Longitudinal Study

Jiwon Kim, Hyoung-Ryoul Kim1, Se-Eun Kim, Sung-Mi Jang2, Jung-Wan Koo1

Department of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, Korea.

1Department of Preventive Medicine, Catholic Industrial Medical Center, The Catholic University of Korea, Korea.

2Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Korea.

Corresponding author (cyclor@catholic.ac.kr)

Received 2 January 2012       Revised 4 June 2012       Accepted 14 June 2012

Copyright © 2012 The Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Abstract

Objectives

To reveal the influence of job stress change on body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference in white-collar male workers.

Methods

A total of 277 male workers in a Korean R&D company were enrolled between 2008 and 2010. Baseline and follow-up data were collected with structured self-administered questionnaires and anthropometric measurements by nurses. The questionnaire survey included general and work-related characteristics and the Korean Occupational Stress Scale-Short Form (KOSS-SF). The job stress scores in each examination were dichotomized at the median values for the Korean workers and categorized into four groups as follows: Group I: Both low job stress (2008, 2010), Group II: High job stress (2008) & low job stress (2010), Group III: Low job stress (2008) & high job stress (2010), Group IV: Both high job stress (2008, 2010). Multiple logistic regression modeling was used to determine the influence of job stress change on BMI and waist circumference.

Results

The adjusted odds ratio for the change in waist circumference above the 75th percentile for Group IV in 'job demand' increased more than in Group I (OR = 2.54 95% CI=1.06~5.55). Also, Group IV in 'job demand' has higher odds ratio for change in BMI above the 75th percentile than Group I (OR=2.25 95% CI=1.01~5.00). Adjusted odds ratios comparing Group II to Group I for the change in waist circumference above the 75th percentile were 0.36 (95% CI=0.15~0.87) in 'inadequate social support', 0.12 (95% CI=0.02~0.98) in 'lack of reward', 0.25 (95% CI=0.08~0.80) in 'total score', respectively.

Conclusions

These results suggest that sustained high job control is a risk factor for abdominal obesity and weight gain. Also, diminished job stress has a negative influence on change in abdominal obesity. Further studies are required to establish job stress intervention plans.

Keywords: Job stress, Body mass index, Waist circumference, Central obesity

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