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Job strain and risk of obesity: should we discriminate mental and physical strain?

International Journal of Obesity volume 39, page 1666 (2015)Cite this article

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An in depth understanding of how timely components of daily living such as the main occupation can contribute to obesity is needed. In this context, Kivimaki et al.1 conducted a systematic review combined with a meta-analysis on job strain, and risk of weight gain and obesity using eight studies that represent a sample of 44 000 subjects. The conclusion that emerges from their work is that job strain does not appear to be important for primary or secondary obesity prevention.

Before concluding that job strain is not important, complementary aspects need to be highlighted. The concept of job strain used by Kivimaki et al. refers to the psychological working condition based on job demand and job control. In this context, no distinction is made between the mental and physical components of job strain. In addition, the characteristics of the subjects such as gender were not considered in the analysis. Nevertheless, a growing body of knowledge supports that those two types of job strain led to different acute and chronic effects, and that the response can differ based on individual profile.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Kinesiology, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada

    M-E Mathieu

  2. Metabolic Health and Complex Diseases, Sainte-Justine UHC Research Center, Montreal, QC, Canada

    M-E Mathieu

  3. Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada

    A Tremblay

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  1. M-E Mathieu
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Correspondence to M-E Mathieu.

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Mathieu, ME., Tremblay, A. Job strain and risk of obesity: should we discriminate mental and physical strain?. Int J Obes 39, 1666 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2015.149

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