Experts call for UK four-day week as study links long work hours to obesity

Those who work longer hours are more likely to be obese and cutting how much time you spend working could help you keep the weight off, research suggests. International research presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Istanbul compared working patterns and obesity prevalence for 33 OECD countries from 1990 to 2022. The study found that countries such as the US, Mexico and Colombia, which have longer annual working hours, also had higher obesity rates, even though northern European countries consume more energy and fat on average than those in Latin America. Reducing annual working hours by 1% was associated with a 0.16% decrease in obesity rates. The authors concluded that lack of time for exercise and work-related stress could explain why those who clock off last are more likely to pile the weight on. Dr Pradeepa Korale-Gedara of the University of Queensland, Australia, the lead author of the study, said increased stress raised levels of the hormone cortisol, causing people to store more fat, while working in jobs where they were unable to burn energy. “When people have a more balanced life, they have a better life,” she said. “They have less stress, they can focus on more nutritious food and engage in more physical activities.” Although researchers warn the study does not prove causation and income levels of different countries could also be a factor, it has prompted experts to renew calls for a four-day week in the UK. …