ECO 2026
Shorter work hours linked to lower obesity
Clinical Takeaway: Time pressure from long hours may be a real driver of obesity. Diet and exercise advice may fall flat when patients have little time to act on it.
Obesity research usually focuses on diet, activity, and individual behavior. But national diet data don't always line up with obesity rates. For example, individuals in Latin American countries typically eat less than many European nations, yet they are heavier. This study asked whether working hours help explain the gap.
The link was modest but consistent. Across the full study period, each 1% drop in annual working hours was tied to a 0.16% decline in adult obesity. The effect was nearly twice as strong in men (0.23%) as in women (0.11%) and held after adjusting for GDP, urbanization, and food prices.
Country differences were striking. Germans averaged 1,340 work hours a year; Colombians averaged 2,282. Obesity rates ranged from 5.5% in Japan to 42% in the US. Higher GDP and more urbanization were also tied to lower obesity, though with smaller effects.
Interestingly, the association weakened over time. Between 1990 and 2010, a 1% drop in working hours predicted a 0.17% obesity decline; from 2000 to 2022, the figure was 0.13%. The authors suggest rising public health awareness may have offset some of the working-hour effect.
The authors argue obesity prevention needs labor market and food system fixes, not just behavior change. "These results underscore the need for coordinated policy responses that extend beyond individual behaviour change," the abstract concludes.
Source: Korale Gedara P. ECO 2026. Abstract 0113. The Role of Working Hours on Obesity Prevalence: Evidence from OECD Countries