Weight status or change and impacts on labour market outcomes: a systematic scoping review

This project will assess the relationship between weight status or weight change and key labour market outcomes.

6 March 2024

Background

The number of adults living with overweight or obesity has increased globally in recent decades, with the highest rates seen in high-income countries. Obesity is linked to substantial healthcare and economic costs, which are expected to increase if trends continue. Living with high BMI has often been linked with poorer work outcomes, such as employment status, absenteeism, and productivity, though the strength of the evidence underlying these associations is unclear.

Helping people to gain and maintain employment a policy priority in the UK and important to achieving Economic growth. Supporting people with a high BMI to lead healthy lifestyles and remain in employment could produce benefits for both individuals and the wider economy. Although there is a large body of evidence linking weight status with labour market outcomes, research is needed to bring the evidence together and better understand what it tells us in order to inform an appropriate policy response.

Aims and Objectives

The aim of this research is to review current evidence to assess the relationship between weight status or weight change and key labour market outcomes. These include employment status, losing or gaining employment, productivity/presenteeism, and absenteeism/sickness leave. This project has three objectives:

To scope and describe the existing evidence base

To better understand the relationship between weight status or weight change and key labour market outcomes, by considering the depth and strength of relevant evidence

To identify gaps in evidence to inform future research

Methodology

We will conduct a scoping review to examine the association and directionality between weight status or weight change and labour market outcomes. The review will focus on adults (aged 16 years and older) in high-income countries and will include contemporary evidence to reflect current obesity prevalence and work conditions. Measures of weight will include weight status or change (loss, gain, or regain). Labour market outcomes will include employment status or change, absenteeism, productivity, and work ability related to health. We will consider studies where weight is considered the factor affecting labour market outcomes but also include studies looking at how work factors may influence weight. Importantly, we will consider to what extent reported associations are causal or potentially explained by other factors, such as socioeconomic status. Relevant literature will be summarised to describe the consistency of evidence.

Policy Relevance and Dissemination

Our findings wll provide policymakers with a clearer understanding of how weight status and weight change are related to employment, productivity, and absenteeism. This review can help identify whether and how living with a high BMI may influence work outcomes. Evidence from this review will inform policymaking aimed at reducing barriers to employment. Our findings will be shared with the Department of Health and Social Care and will also be disseminated in an academic paper.

Timing

June 2023 - May 2026

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The NIHR Policy Research Unit in Healthy Weight is part of the NIHR and hosted by UCL.