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Long Hours Fuel Obesity, New OECD Study Finds

curiousMay 12, 2026·351 words·3 min read

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.

The team said work stress and a lack of time may explain the link. Stress raises a chemical called cortisol, which makes the body store fat. People who work long hours also have less time to cook healthy food or exercise. The researchers found that a 1% cut in working hours was linked to a 0.16% drop in obesity. But they warned this does not prove that long hours cause obesity.

Some groups in the United Kingdom want a four-day working week. They say a shorter week could help people live healthier lives. The study suggests that a 20% cut in working hours could lead to half a million fewer obese Britons. About 200 UK companies have already changed to a four-day week. But other experts are not sure. The UK government will not force the change, but will make flexible work easier.

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