Eating behavior related to obesity and job stress in male Japanese workers.

OBJECTIVE: We examined a possible relation among obesity, eating behavior, and job stress in male Japanese workers.
METHODS: A questionnaire survey on lifestyle, eating behavior, and job stress was conducted with 595 male daytime workers (19-60 y of age, mean +/- SD 41.8 +/- 12.6 y of age) in a synthetic-fiber manufacturing plant. The 431 non-obese men (body mass index <25.0 k/m(2), mean age 41.7 +/- 12.9 y) and 164 obese men (body mass index > or = 25.0 k/m(2), mean age 42.0 +/- 11.9 y) were examined in relation to obesity, eating behavior, and job stress. Body mass index was calculated from height and weight measured in an annual health check.
RESULTS: Obesity was associated with eating behaviors such as eating to satiety, eating fast, and substitution eating from irritability. These eating behaviors were related to high job demands of quantitative workload. The eating behaviors were also correlated with psychological stress responses of fatigue, tension/anxiety, and depression, which were associated with quantitative workload.
CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that high job demands of quantitative workload may be a factor related to eating behavior to eat a lot among male Japanese workers. Increased workplace stress from job strain may affect the workers through eating behaviors to eat a lot that contribute to obesity.