Prevalence of obesity: Comparison of commerce vs. industry sector and associated variables

Abstract

Introduction and objectives

Obesity has been considered the pandemic of the 21st century due to its high prevalence and the significant morbidity and mortality it entails. The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of obesity in two occupational sectors and to determine the variables associated with it.

Methodology

This is a cross-sectional and descriptive study involving 56,856 workers from the commerce and industrial sectors. Anthropometric, clinical, analytical, and sociodemographic data were collected during medical examinations conducted between 2017 and 2019.

Results

The prevalence of obesity was found to be significantly higher in the industrial sector compared to the commerce sector. Factors such as age, sex, educational level, physical activity, adherence to the Mediterranean diet, and smoking showed significant associations with the four scales of excess weight evaluated. Among these, age, physical activity level, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet demonstrated the strongest associations. In the industrial sector, obesity may be related to work-related stress, prolonged shifts, and limited access to healthy food, whereas in the commerce sector, sedentary behaviour and poor dietary habits were identified as key contributing factors.

Conclusions

Specific strategies tailored to each occupational sector are recommended, including active breaks, the promotion of physical activity, and access to healthy foods. While the study has strengths such as its large sample size and multivariate analysis, the cross-sectional design and lack of control for certain confounding variables limit its ability to establish causality. The findings underscore the need for preventive policies adapted to workplace environments to mitigate the impact of obesity.

Resumen

Introducción y objetivos

La obesidad se ha considerado como la pandemia del siglo xxi por su elevada prevalencia y la gran morbimortalidad que acarrea. El objetivo es valorar la prevalencia de obesidad en dos sectores laborales y determinar qué variables se asocian con ella.

Metodología

Estudio transversal y descriptivo en 56.856 trabajadores de los sectores comercio e industrial. Se recolectaron datos antropométricos, clínicos, analíticos y sociodemográficos durante exámenes médicos realizados entre 2017 y 2019.

Resultados

Se observa una prevalencia de obesidad significativamente mayor en el sector industrial en comparación con el comercio. Factores como edad, sexo, nivel educativo, actividad física, dieta mediterránea y tabaquismo presentaron asociaciones relevantes con las cuatro escalas de exceso de peso evaluadas. La edad, el nivel de actividad física y la dieta mediterránea fueron las variables con mayor asociación. En el sector industrial, la obesidad podría relacionarse con estrés laboral, turnos prolongados y acceso limitado a alimentos saludables, mientras que en el sector comercio el sedentarismo y los hábitos alimentarios inadecuados son factores destacados.

Conclusiones

Se recomienda desarrollar estrategias específicas para cada sector laboral, incluyendo pausas activas, promoción de actividad física y acceso a alimentos saludables. Aunque el estudio presenta fortalezas, como su amplio tamaño muestral y el análisis multivariado, el diseño transversal y la falta de control de algunas variables de confusión limitan su capacidad para establecer causalidad. Los hallazgos subrayan la necesidad de políticas preventivas adaptadas al entorno laboral para mitigar el impacto de la obesidad.