Occupational Health: Obesity and the workplace

Posted Wednesday 03 July 2024 | OccPhyz Consulting

Join the presenter, Occupational and Environmental Physician Dr Christopher Cunneen OAM for a session about obesity and the workplace. Obesity in the workplace is a growing challenge for employers. Yet, obesity is an understandably tricky topic to tackle.

A worker's weight is so often an issue of self-esteem that there can be real fear of causing offence by discussing it at work.

It is a topic that many line managers will avoid discussing with staff and not a typical issue around which employers engage in awareness raising. It can also easily be treated insensitively or as a stigma among work groups, which has no place in a modern, inclusive workplace. 

Obesity – defined as having a high body-mass index – is a risk factor for several of the world’s leading causes of death, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and various types of cancer.

Employers need to recognise obesity as a risk factor to ensure a safe workplace environment for the obese worker.

Obesity in the workplace can lead to physical restriction, higher absenteeism due to illness, work-related injuries, and thus, a decrease in productivity. For these reasons, it is in employers’ and employees’ best interests to ensure that body mass does not negatively impact upon one’s productivity, safety, or wellbeing in the workplace.