Obese Britons are putting the entire country on the slow track: fat staff take twice as much time off sick and seriously hamper economic growth, the report shows
Furloughs due to obesity-related diseases are a serious drag on economic growth, a landmark study warns today.
Those who are overweight – almost four in 10 Brits – are 22 per cent more likely to take at least seven days off a year due to illness, according to a data analysis of 147 million working people across Europe.
Combined with those who are obese, this means that up to 60 percent of the nation may be taking sick leave due to weight-related problems, such as diabetes or heart disease.
The data showed that obese people are up to twice as likely to get sick than people of a healthy weight. In the first detailed analysis of how sick days vary depending on weight, researchers revealed that Britain is ‘one of the worst’ of the 28 countries surveyed for obesity absenteeism.
Dr. Thomas Czypionka (pictured), co-author of the study, has said that the problem with obesity is that there are so many health problems associated with obesity
Experts say the findings, to be presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Venice, reinforce how obesity has become the driving force behind the ‘disease culture’.
They warned this was one of the ‘biggest budget risks’ facing the UK economy, reinforcing our reputation as the ‘sick man of Europe’.
The Health Economics and Health Policy Research Group, Institute for Advanced Studies, Vienna, Austria, looked at national survey data from a sample of 122,598 people.
Employees were asked for details of absenteeism from work due to ill health in the past year.
Data for Britain shows that those classified as obese, with a BMI over 30, are almost a quarter (23 percent) more likely to be absent from work for a period of time. People with severe obesity – with a BMI above 40 – were more than twice as likely (118 percent) to take time off.
Dr. Thomas Czypionka, co-author of the study, said: ‘The problem with obesity is that there are so many health consequences that arise from obesity.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea to just wait and let people become obese and then pay for the treatment and suffer all the consequences when they leave the workforce.”
Last month the Prime Minister announced plans to tackle the ‘culture of illness’ with major reforms to the benefits system. But experts said the plans have little chance of success unless ministers tackle obesity.
A December report found that Britain has the third highest rate of obesity within the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, with an estimated annual cost to the British economy of £98 billion.
Meanwhile, the latest data shows that the number of sick notes issued by the NHS has doubled in ten years to 11 million last year.
Furloughs due to obesity-related diseases are seriously hampering economic growth, a landmark study warns today (stock photo)
Last week, a report from the Institute for Public Policy Research think tank said obesity is a “common factor” underlying all the top reasons for long-term illness in Britain, including musculoskeletal problems, heart disease and depression.
Katharine Jenner, director of the Obesity Health Alliance, said: ‘This research lays it bare: high rates of obesity-related disease reduce economic productivity, with devastating economic consequences.’
A government spokesperson said: ‘Our £2.5 billion ‘Back to Work’ plan will help more than a million people, including those with long-term health problems linked to obesity, to break down barriers to work.”