The more job strain men and women reported, the more likely they were to become obese, Dr. Eric J. Brunner of the Royal Free and University College London Medical School and colleagues found. Higher stress levels were also tied to excess fat around the middle, which is particularly harmful for health.
Chronic stress has been linked to heart disease and the bolic syndrome, a constellation of symptoms including excess belly fat that increases the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, Brunner and his team note. They hypothesized that job stress might make people more likely to develop obesity during adulthood as well.
To investigate, they followed 6,895 men and 3,413 women for 19 years. All were 35 to 55 years old at the study's outset. Participants reported levels of job strain, defined as having heavy demands, little decision-making power, and little social support, at several points during the study.
Men and women who reported job strain on at least three occasions were 73 percent more likely to become obese than those who never said they were stressed on the job. They were also 61 percent more likely to develop central obesity, defined as a waist circumference greater than 102 cm (40 inches) for men or 88 cm (35 inches) for women.
More information: http://www.tcmadvisory.com/2007/3-23/2007323145514.html
