Variations in obesity, smoking, heavy drinking, and non-adherence to physical activity recommendations across occupations: Findings from a national sample

Background and Aim: The association between occupation and risk factors such as obesity, heavy alcohol consumption, smoking, and physical inactivity has been established. The recent economic recession has potentially caused changes in the risky health behaviors of workers. The aim of this study is to examine the most recent prevalence of obesity, heavy alcohol consumption, smoking, and leisure time physical activity (PA) across occupations, adjusting for many significant covariates. Methods: Data from the 2010 National Health Interview Survey was used. Analysis was limited to adults, 18 years and older (n=27,157). Logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted prevalence's of obesity, morbid obesity, current smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, and adherence to physical activity (PA) recommendations. Results: The highest prevalence of obesity, and morbid obesity, was among those in the community and social services occupations. The highest prevalence of smoking was among those in healthcare support occupations, heavy drinking was observed in the construction and extraction occupations, and non-adherence to PA recommendations was among those in the farming, fishing and forestry occupations. Occupational categories with high prevalence of obesity and current smoking were different from the categories observed in previous studies. Conclusion: With changing economic conditions changes in the occupational variations of certain risk factors may occur and policies and programs directed toward these risk factors have to re-focus to adapt to the changes. At the same time, some existing policies and programs need to be re-evaluated in the wake of consistent prevalence of certain risk factors in the same occupational categories.