Key Summary
- Study links long working hours with rising obesity rates across OECD countries.
- Researchers say shorter work weeks could improve eating habits and overall health.
- Critics argue unhealthy food choices, not work hours alone, are to blame for obesity.
A study has found link between long working hours and increased risk of obesity.
The research across 33 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries between 1990 and 2022, suggests that obesity rates could see a significant dip with the reduction of working hours.
The study found that a 1 per cent reduction in annual working hours could lead to 0.16 per cent fall in obesity rates.
According to the campaigners for a four-day week, hurried modern lifestyles, stress, takeaway culture and long working hours play a key role in declining health quality.
Long hours dedicated to work not only increase stress, but also take away the time to cook a healthy meal.
If the working days are reduced to four, then the working hours will have a 20 per cent drop, avoiding the excessive dependence on Deliveroo, Uber Eats or Just Eat, especially during nights.
Reducing the utilisation of takeaways is a necessity as they contain double the calories compared to the supermarket equivalents.
Sadly, the jobs that claimed to be active has also become mechanized these days.
However, critics opine that long working hours cannot be blamed for obesity over the unhealthy eating habits of the people.
The findings of the research will be presented at the European Congress on Obesity which will take place in Istanbul from May 12-15.
