Alberto Juan Caban, BSc¹, David James Lee, PhD¹, Lora E. Fleming, MD PhD MPH MSc¹, William LeBlanc, PhD¹, Orlando Gomez-Marin, PhD, MSc², and Terry Pitman, BA¹. (1) Epidemiology & Public Health, University of Miami School of Medicine, 1801 NW 9th Avenue, Highland Professional Building, Suite 200, Miami, FL 33136, 305-243-6980, acaban@med.miami.edu, (2) Epidemiology & Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Miami School of Medicine, Highland Professional Building, 1801 NW 9th Ave, Miami, FL 33136

Objectives: Obesity has emerged as one of the most important public health issues in the United States. Occupational settings are an important venue for targeting this emerging epidemic. This study compares mean body mass index (BMI) levels among major US occupational working groups.

Methods: The NHIS is a cross-sectional multistage probability household survey of the US civilian non-institutionalized population. Aggregated data from NHIS survey years 1986-1994 were used and included over 450,000 US workers, age > 18 years. Self-reported weight, height and data on current occupational status were examined. For each occupation, gender-specific BMI means were calculated and then ranked.

Results: Mean BMI values were higher for males than for females within most of the 206 occupational groups (male mean BMI range: 23.4-27.9 kg/m2; female mean BMI range: 21.4-27.0 kg/m2). For males the five occupational groups with the highest mean BMI were: correctional institution officers; bus drivers; dispatchers; bill and account collectors; sheriffs / bailiffs / others (range of mean BMI: 27.1-27.9 kg/m2). For females the five occupational groups with the highest mean BMI were: bus drivers; taxi cab drivers and chauffeurs; supervisors, cleaning and building service workers; nursing aids, orderlies, and attendants; and timber cutting and logging occupations (range of mean BMI: 26.5-27.0 kg/m2).

Conclusions: Weight loss interventions targeting workers employed in these occupational groups are warranted.

Learning Objectives:

• List the five occupations with the highest mean BMI for males
• List the five occupations with the highest mean BMI for females
• Discuss the need for additional research in worker groups identified as having the highest mean BMI
• Describe the design of the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)
• Identify the strengths and weaknesses of the NHIS for occupational health research

Keywords: Occupational Surveillance, Occupational Health

Related Web page: www.rsmas.miami.edu/groups/niehs/niosh/

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.