Physical inactivity and obesity are the primary risk factors for diabetes among healthcare workers

The authors evaluated the associations between work-related factors and the prevalence of diabetes and obesity.

The rise in the prevalence of diabetes is alarming and research attributes most of the increase to lifestyle factors. However, little knowledge exists about the influence of occupational (work-related) factors on the risk for developing diabetes.

This study estimated the importance of work and lifestyle as risk factors for developing diabetes mellitus, and explores the association of work factors and obesity.

7,305 healthcare workers filled out a written questionnaire, after which they were followed for 7 years. All lifestyle variables were self-assessed in the questionnaire.

Over the 7 years, 3.6% of female participants and 4.3% of male participants developed diabetes. 3.3% of those who rated themselves as having good health developed diabetes compared to 5.3% of those who rated themselves as having poor health. Compared to the 3.3% of people who reported no musculoskeletal pain (pain of the nerves, muscles and bones) at the beginning of the study, 6.6% of those who reported severe musculoskeletal pain developed diabetes. 3.4% of those who had reported no problems with sleep developed diabetes compared to 4.7% of those who reported at least one problem with sleep.

3.2% of those who worked entirely or partly during the daytime developed diabetes compared to 4.8% of those who worked only evening or nights.

3% of those who reported undertaking exercise developed diabetes compared to 4.2% of those who took no exercise. 4.1% of those with the lowest self-reported physical capacity (ability to undertake exercise) developed diabetes, while 2.4% of those with the highest self-reported physical capacity developed diabetes.

1.6% of those with a normal body-mass index (calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by height squared in metres; 18.5 – 25 kg/m²), 4.9% of those who were overweight (25 – 30 kg/m²) and 10.6% of those who were obese (>30 kg/m²) developed diabetes.

Compared to those who were normal weight, those who were overweight were 2.89 times more likely to develop diabetes while those who were obese were 6.53 times more likely.

10.4% of those with good self-rated health were obese compared to 16.2% of those with poor self-rated health. 9.6% of those with no musculoskeletal pain were obese compared to 15.2% of those with severe musculoskeletal pain. 11% of those who reported having no depression were obese compared to 17.4% of those who reported experiencing depression. 10.4% of those who reported no problems with sleep were obese compared to 14.3% of those who reported having at least one problem with sleep.

10.3% of those who did not develop diabetes were obese, while 32.8% of those who did develop diabetes were obese. 10.3% of those who worked entirely or partly during the daytime were obese compared to 13.4% of those who worked only evening or nights. 8.2% of those who undertook exercise were obese compared to 14.3% of those who reported taking no exercise. 12.4% of those who did not smoke were obese compared to 8.8% of those who smoked.

The authors stated that the risk of developing diabetes was predominantly mediated through obesity and physical inactivity for healthcare workers.