Fat employees are twice as more likely to take day off sick, report finds

On May 13, 2024

By Kate Pickles Health Editor For The Daily Mail

Published: 00:05, 13 May 2024 | Updated: 01:33, 13 May 2024

Time off work for obesity-related illness is seriously hampering economic growth, a landmark study warns today.

Those who are overweight – nearly four in ten Brits – are 22 per cent more likely to have taken off at least seven days in a year for illness, according to a data analysis representing 147 million working people across Europe.

When combined with those who are obese, it means up to 60 per cent of the nation may be taking sick leave because of weight-related issues, such as diabetes or heart disease.

The data showed people with obesity are up to twice as likely to be off sick than those of a healthy weight. In the first detailed breakdown of how sick days vary according to weight, researchers revealed the UK is ‘among the worst’ of 28 countries examined for obesity absenteeism.

Dr Thomas Czypionka (pictured), study co-author has said the problem with obesity is that there are so many health problems related to being obese

Record 1.5million women off long-term

Long-term sickness is the main reason women are out of the labour market, with poor mental health up by more than a quarter in five years.

The number of women who are economically inactive due to long-term sickness soared to a record 1.54million in 2023.

This is up 48 per cent since 2018, according to the Office for National Statistics.

The number of women aged 16-to-64 who are economically inactive due to depression, anxiety and mental illness has increased by 69,000 (27 per cent) over this period, to 326,000, according to analysis of the figures by the Trades Union Congress.

The umbrella organisation blamed the rise on issues such as long NHS waiting lists and cuts to preventive services.

Paul Nowak, general secretary of the TUC, said: ‘We need a proper plan for dealing with the sharp rise in long-term sickness.’

A Government spokesman said its £2.5 billion Back to Work Plan will help women with long-term health conditions.

Experts said the findings, which are being presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Venice, reinforce how obesity has become the driving force behind ‘sick note culture’.

They warned it was one of the ‘gravest fiscal risks’ facing the UK economy, cementing 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.

It asked those employed for details of work absence due to ill health over the past year.

Data for the UK showed that those classed as obese, with a BMI over 30, were almost a quarter (23 per cent) more likely to be absent from work for any period of time. Severely obese people – with a BMI over 40 – were more than twice as likely (118 per cent) to take time off.

Dr Thomas Czypionka, study co-author, said: ‘The problem with obesity is that there are so many health consequences that branch from being obese.

‘I don’t think that it is a good idea to just wait and let people get obese and then pay for the treatment and face all the consequences of them leaving the labour market.’

Last month, the Prime Minister announced plans to tackle a ‘sick note culture’ with sweeping reforms to the benefit system. But experts said the plans stand little chance of success unless ministers tackle obesity.

A report in December showed the UK has the third highest proportion of people with obesity in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, with an estimated yearly cost to the UK economy of £98billon.

Meanwhile, the latest data shows the number of sick notes issued by the NHS has doubled in a decade to 11 million last year.

Time off work for obesity-related illness is seriously hampering economic growth, a landmark study warns today (stock photo)

Last week, a report by the Institute for Public Policy Research think tank said obesity was a ‘common factor’ underpinning all of the top reasons for long-term sickness in the UK, 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 is driving down economic productivity, with devastating economic impacts.’

A Government spokesman said: ‘Our £2.5billion Back to Work Plan will help over a million people, including those with long-term health conditions associated with obesity, to break down barriers to work.’