What is the story about?
Another case has been made for a four-day work week. A study has found that working longer hours could lead to putting on extra kilos. Research by Australian scientists says that logging off early could help people slim down.
The findings come as a four-day work week is already being discussed worldwide. Calls in Britain have increased to reduce working hours after the research came to light.
Let’s take a closer look.
Research has found that people who work more have a higher chance of being obese.
The international study presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Istanbul analysed data spanning 1990 to 2022 from 33 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries.
Scientists compared average working hours with
obesity rates in these nations.
Countries such as the United States, Mexico and Colombia, with longer annual working hours, had higher obesity rates, The Guardian reported, citing the research.
This was even though northern European countries consume more energy and fat on average compared to Latin American nations.
Countries where people worked fewer hours usually had fewer highly overweight employees. The Netherlands and Nordic countries had both low obesity and working hours.
As per the study, every one per cent cut in working hours resulted in a 0.16 per cent reduction in obesity levels.
Slashing working hours by 20 per cent by adopting a four-day week could lead to a three per cent fall in obesity rates, the data suggested, as per The Times.
Researchers say that “time poor” employees usually rely on unhealthy convenience food, lack time to exercise and have increased levels of cortisol, the stress hormone.
These reasons could be behind why people who leave the office late are likely to burn fewer calories.
Pradeepa Korale-Gedara of the University of Queensland in Australia, the study’s author, suggested a four-day week to tackle the problem of obesity.
She said unhealthy weight cannot be addressed only through nutritional factors.
“We need to change the food environment and working conditions,” Korale-Gedara said. “When people have a more balanced life, they have a better life. They have less stress, they can focus on more nutritious food and engage in more physical activities.”
She added, “There are many ways that working hours could promote obesity besides convenience foods, which are obviously significant — for example, long hours could promote the stress hormone cortisol, which is associated with weight gain.” Other factors were “the associated lack of exercise” and “lack of time to engage in meal planning”, she said.
Researchers, however, warned that the study alone does not prove that working fewer hours impacts weight, adding that income levels of different countries may also be a factor.
Experts in the UK have renewed calls for a four-day week after the study was made public. Proponents assert that productivity can be maintained while a reduced workweek will have health and societal benefits.
James Reeves, of the 4 Day Week Foundation, said, “A four-day week on full pay could slash Britain’s obesity levels by giving millions the time they need to ditch bad habits and make healthier choices.”
In England, 13.5 million (1.35 crore) people are obese. If a four-day week is implemented, there would be over 400,000 fewer obese adults.
But Dr Christopher Snowdon, of the Institute of Economic Affairs, pointed out, “The UK is among the ten countries in this study with the lowest working hours and yet has one of the higher obesity rates.
“So the idea that a four day week would make Brits slimmer seems dubious. For most people, a four day week would mean a lower income, and we know that people on low incomes are more likely to be obese," he was quoted as saying by
The Sun.
As per the UK's Office for National Statistics data, more than 200,000 workers have switched to a four-day week since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Rita Fontinha, of the World of Work Institute at the University of Reading, said a four-day week could “contribute to healthier societies”, reported The Time.
“We know that obesity is related to lower incomes but it is also related to something called time poverty,” she said. “If you work two jobs or long hours, you simply do not have the energy to cook and it becomes easier to just buy something packaged or processed.”
About 200 UK companies have already switched to the working policy for their employees.
There is a debate over adopting a four-day workweek around the world.
Belgium was the first country in Europe to introduce a four-day week for employees who want it.
Germany, Iceland, Portugal and the UK have also experimented with the system.
In January 2022, Sharjah became the first emirate to adopt a four-day week for government employees.
Last April, Japan’s capital, Tokyo, rolled out a four-day workweek for government employees.
With inputs from agencies
The findings come as a four-day work week is already being discussed worldwide. Calls in Britain have increased to reduce working hours after the research came to light.
Let’s take a closer look.
How was the study conducted?
Research has found that people who work more have a higher chance of being obese.
The international study presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Istanbul analysed data spanning 1990 to 2022 from 33 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries.
Scientists compared average working hours with
Obesity linked to more working hours
Countries such as the United States, Mexico and Colombia, with longer annual working hours, had higher obesity rates, The Guardian reported, citing the research.
This was even though northern European countries consume more energy and fat on average compared to Latin American nations.
Countries where people worked fewer hours usually had fewer highly overweight employees. The Netherlands and Nordic countries had both low obesity and working hours.
Obesity has been linked to longer working hours. Representational Image/Reuters
As per the study, every one per cent cut in working hours resulted in a 0.16 per cent reduction in obesity levels.
Slashing working hours by 20 per cent by adopting a four-day week could lead to a three per cent fall in obesity rates, the data suggested, as per The Times.
Why does this happen?
Researchers say that “time poor” employees usually rely on unhealthy convenience food, lack time to exercise and have increased levels of cortisol, the stress hormone.
These reasons could be behind why people who leave the office late are likely to burn fewer calories.
Pradeepa Korale-Gedara of the University of Queensland in Australia, the study’s author, suggested a four-day week to tackle the problem of obesity.
She said unhealthy weight cannot be addressed only through nutritional factors.
“We need to change the food environment and working conditions,” Korale-Gedara said. “When people have a more balanced life, they have a better life. They have less stress, they can focus on more nutritious food and engage in more physical activities.”
She added, “There are many ways that working hours could promote obesity besides convenience foods, which are obviously significant — for example, long hours could promote the stress hormone cortisol, which is associated with weight gain.” Other factors were “the associated lack of exercise” and “lack of time to engage in meal planning”, she said.
Researchers, however, warned that the study alone does not prove that working fewer hours impacts weight, adding that income levels of different countries may also be a factor.
UK sees calls for 4-day work week
Experts in the UK have renewed calls for a four-day week after the study was made public. Proponents assert that productivity can be maintained while a reduced workweek will have health and societal benefits.
James Reeves, of the 4 Day Week Foundation, said, “A four-day week on full pay could slash Britain’s obesity levels by giving millions the time they need to ditch bad habits and make healthier choices.”
In England, 13.5 million (1.35 crore) people are obese. If a four-day week is implemented, there would be over 400,000 fewer obese adults.
But Dr Christopher Snowdon, of the Institute of Economic Affairs, pointed out, “The UK is among the ten countries in this study with the lowest working hours and yet has one of the higher obesity rates.
“So the idea that a four day week would make Brits slimmer seems dubious. For most people, a four day week would mean a lower income, and we know that people on low incomes are more likely to be obese," he was quoted as saying by
As per the UK's Office for National Statistics data, more than 200,000 workers have switched to a four-day week since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Rita Fontinha, of the World of Work Institute at the University of Reading, said a four-day week could “contribute to healthier societies”, reported The Time.
“We know that obesity is related to lower incomes but it is also related to something called time poverty,” she said. “If you work two jobs or long hours, you simply do not have the energy to cook and it becomes easier to just buy something packaged or processed.”
About 200 UK companies have already switched to the working policy for their employees.
There is a debate over adopting a four-day workweek around the world.
Belgium was the first country in Europe to introduce a four-day week for employees who want it.
Germany, Iceland, Portugal and the UK have also experimented with the system.
In January 2022, Sharjah became the first emirate to adopt a four-day week for government employees.
Last April, Japan’s capital, Tokyo, rolled out a four-day workweek for government employees.
With inputs from agencies
