Experts call for UK four-day week as study links long work hours to obesity | Obesity
Those who work long hours are more likely to be obese, according to a study, and reducing the time spent working could help you maintain your weight.
International research presented at the European Obesity Congress in Istanbul compared working patterns and the prevalence of obesity in 33 OECD countries from 1990 to 2022. The study found that countries such as the United States, Mexico and Colombia, which have longer annual working hours, also had higher obesity rates, even though northern European countries consume on average more energy and fat than those from Latin America.
A 1% reduction in annual working hours was associated with a 0.16% reduction in obesity rates. The authors concluded that lack of time to exercise and work-related stress could explain why those who finish work last are more likely to accumulate weight. Dr Pradeepa Korale-Gedara of the University of Queensland, Australia, lead author of the study, said increased stress increased cortisol levels, causing people to store more fat, while working in jobs where they were unable to burn energy.
“When people have a more balanced life, they have a better life,” she said. “They are less stressed, can focus on more nutritious foods and engage in more physical activity. »
Although the researchers caution that the study does not prove causation and that income levels in different countries could also be a factor, it has prompted experts to renew their call for a four-day week in the UK.
Around 200 companies have already adopted this work model for their employees. And South Cambridgeshire District Council, whose Liberal Democrat administration won 43 out of 45 seats in local elections last week, introduced a four-day week for all staff.
Data from the Office for National Statistics shows more than 200,000 workers have moved to the four-day week since the Covid-19 pandemic.
James Reeves, campaign director at the 4 Day Week Foundation, said: “A four-day week on full pay could significantly reduce obesity levels in Britain by giving millions of people the time they need to ditch bad habits and make healthier choices.
“It is critical that local and national governments think seriously about the role a shorter workweek can play in improving the health of our communities. The nine-to-five workweek is 100 years old and we are long overdue for an update.”
Dr Rita Fontinha, a psychologist at the University of Reading, who last year published a review of the evidence on the four-day week and was funded by the Portuguese government to pilot a four-day working week in that city, said obesity was closely linked to lack of time.
“If you’re working double shifts or long hours, you just don’t have the energy to cook and it becomes easier to just buy something packaged or processed.
“A four-day week or different forms of reduced working hours could be associated with better choices in diet, exercise and sleep to contribute to healthier societies.”
But ministers remain opposed to the four-day week. A Government spokesperson said: “This Government will not impose a four-day working week for five days’ pay. But through the Employment Rights Act we are making it easier to accept flexible working requests.”
