Combating Obesity in a Workplace

Obesity is a significant public health concern worldwide. It is a multifactorial disease characterized by its complexity, as it is influenced by many factors as gut- brain axis, gut microbiome, genetics, behavioral, environmental ,and energy expenditure. A rising prevalence of obesity is observed in tandem with the acceleration of urbanization and economic transition.The obesity rate among employees and workers who constituting primarily the working population, has consequently witnessed a substantial surge and has garnered significant attention as a prominent public health issue.

According to (WHO), Egypt ranked 18th with highest prevalence of obesity globally and among the leading nations in obesity worldwide. The Prevalence of obesity among adults in Egypt in 2019 according to "100 million health survey" was 39.8% compared to 36% in 2017 in "STEP wise survey". In Egypt, the economic repercussions of obesity is nearly 62 Billion Egyptian pounds annually. This is the expense incurred for treatment comorbidities associated with obesity in adults which is direct health costs and indirect costs caused by decreased work abilities , work absenteeism, and may reach total disability.

Obesity is associated with metabolic abnormalities of metabolic syndrome (MetS). The prominent clinical features of this syndrome include abdominal adiposity, atherogenic dyslipidemia, the elevated blood pressure, insulin resistance, and proinflammatory and prothrombotic conditions.

The global prevalence of metabolic syndrome has been approximated to be approximately 25%. The observed rise in MetS is concomitant with the escalating prevalence of obesity. Obese populations have been associated with a greater prevalence of MetS, with values ranging from 59.6% to 75.7% of the individuals examined. According to the findings of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there has been an observed rise in the prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) among the adult population in the United States. Specifically, the prevalence has increased from 25.3% during the period of 1988-1994 to 34.2% during the period of 2007-2012. The subject of serious concern revolves around the impact of MetS within the working population, as it is closely linked to instances of job absenteeism resulting from illness, diminished productivity, and escalated healthcare expenditures.

Therefore, implementing of interventions aimed at preventing and treating MetS can significantly influence healthcare expenses and costs associated with short-term incapacity, while also enhancing job capacity. Emphasizing the potential for increased health-related productivity among the working population through the mitigation of metabolic syndrome severity.

The concept of work ability encompasses an individual's capacity to engage in work-related activities, and the intricate interplay between various cognitive, physical, and social factors, as well as the influence of diverse environmental elements. Obesity has a tremendous effect on the employee work ability, frequent absenteeism from work and long sick leave as obese workers and employees struggle to remain in the workforce.

Worksites are an appropriate setting and places of choice for implementing obesity intervention programs. An employee dedicates a significant amount of time to their work , and Workplaces possess various attributes, including well-established communication channels and social support systems, which have the potential to facilitate the implementation of multi-component, ecological, and individual interventions. In this context, the aim of our research is to implement 3- months obesity control program to improve work ability and to control the severity of the metabolic syndrome among of employees and workers in a multinational factory in Egypt.

• Work Ability of participants [Time frame: 3 months]