Truck Driver Takes Most Obese Profession

The work world can be frustrating-and whether you're living your dream at the perfect job or coping to make ends meet, chances are, it may not involve a lot of physical activity. In fact, for many of us, work involves sitting at a desk all day and staring at a computer. Yet a recent report conducted in-depth research in order to determine professions that have the most overweight and obese workers, along with little to no anti-obesity programs. What did they discover? Truck drivers take the spot for the most obese profession.

"People spend about a third-or even half-of their waking hours in the workplace," said study lead author Dr. David Bonauto, from the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries said, via Medical Xpress. "But not all work environments are alike. With obesity a big public-health concern, the key message here is that any effort an employer can make toward promoting a healthier work environment and healthier behavior among employees in their particular work setting is going to be meaningful and helpful for both employee and employer."

For the study, researchers focused on the residents of Washington state by looking at data from annual surveys (2003 to 2009) that collected information on individual's eating habits, body mass index (BMI) and physical activity levels. Roughly 38,000 employees between the ages of 18 and 64 were involved in the data.

They found that approximately 25 percent of the sample set was obese, with BMIs at 30 or higher. Older men who were less educated and had lower incomes had the highest obesity rates in the state. However, they discovered that 39 percent of truck drivers in the area were obese--making it one of the most unhealthy professions to choose from.

"While I wouldn't advise people to choose their career based on this, it's really no surprise that truck drivers top the list or that office workers chained to their desks have more issues with overweight and obesity," Lona Sandon, a registered dietitian and assistant professor of clinical nutrition at the University of Texas Southwestern, in Dallas, via Philly.com. "The work environment definitely can affect one's health. Employers who make an effort to encourage and make accessible physical activity and healthy eating can make a difference-not just to their worker's waistline, but also to their bottom line. A worker who's healthy is a worker who's more productive."

More information regarding the findings can bee seen in the journal Preventing Chronic Disease.