Long Hours Fuel Obesity, New OECD Study Finds
International researchers presenting at the European Congress on Obesity in Istanbul have reported that countries with longer working hours tend to record higher obesity rates. The lead author, Dr Pradeepa Korale-Gedara of the University of Queensland in Australia, compared working patterns and obesity prevalence across 33 countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) from 1990 to 2022. She found that a 1% reduction in annual working hours was associated with a 0.16% fall in obesity rates, with the United States, Mexico and Colombia recording both longer working hours and higher obesity rates.
The researchers attributed this apparent link to two mechanisms: workplace stress, which raises levels of the hormone cortisol and encourages the body to store fat, and a simple lack of time for cooking and exercise. The study noted that northern Europeans actually consume more fat and energy on average than people in Latin America, yet still record lower obesity rates. The authors stressed, however, that the data does not prove causation, and that differences in national income could also be driving the pattern. Dr Rita Fontinha, a psychologist at the University of Reading, described the underlying problem as “ time poverty” , arguing that exhausted, time-pressed workers tend to default to packaged or processed food.
The findings have energised the 4 Day Week Foundation, whose campaign manager James Reeves argued that a shorter week on full pay could give millions of Britons the time and energy to make healthier choices; the underlying study suggests such a shift could leave roughly half a million fewer Britons obese. About 200 UK companies and South Cambridgeshire district council have already adopted the model. Critics, however, remain sceptical: Dr Christopher Snowdon of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) called the obesity claim “ dubious” , pointing out that the United Kingdom already has relatively short working hours yet one of the higher obesity rates, and warning that any drop in pay would itself raise obesity risk. A government spokesperson said ministers will not legislate a four-day week, but will make it easier for employees to request flexible hours under the new Employment Rights Act.
