Obesity and absenteeism among U.S. workers: Do physical health and mental health explain the relation?

Obesity among U.S. workers is a costly problem for employers. One productivity outcome related to obesity is increased absenteeism. This national survey of employed adults (N = 2,722) explored whether poor physical health and poor mental health would explain (i.e., mediate) the relationship between obesity and absenteeism. The data revealed that 19.3% of employed U.S. adults (23.6 million workers) were obese. Being obese was positively related to increased absenteeism, as well as associated with both poor physical and poor mental health. When examined separately, both poor physical health and poor mental health were positively related to increased absenteeism. However, when examined simultaneously, poor physical health, but not poor mental health, was positively related to increased absenteeism. Finally, the relation of obesity to absenteeism was fully mediated by poor physical health. Implications for employers are discussed.