Lifestyle and Work-Related Factors Associated with Work Ability and Work Participation for People with Obesity: A Prospective Observational Study After Vocational Rehabilitation

Anita Dyb Linge; Chris Jensen; Petter Laake; Stål Kapstø Bjørkly

doi:10.2147/DMSO.S311462

Lifestyle and Work-Related Factors Associated with Work Ability and Work Participation for People with Obesity: A Prospective Observational Study After Vocational Rehabilitation

Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2021 Jun 29:14:2943-2954. doi: 10.2147/DMSO.S311462. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Anita Dyb Linge¹, Chris Jensen², Petter Laake³, Stål Kapstø Bjørkly⁴

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Social Science and History, Institute of Social Science, Volda University College, Volda, Norway.
² Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Occupational Rehabilitation, Rauland, Norway and Department of Public Health and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway.
³ Faculty of Health Sciences and Social Care, Molde University College, Molde, Norway and Oslo Centre for Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Department of Biostatistics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
⁴ Faculty of Health Science and Social Care, Molde University College, Molde, Norway.

Abstract

Purpose: We aimed to investigate which changes in the explanatory factors that were associated with positive change in the work ability score (WAS) and degree of work participation (DWP) for participants in a new 1-year vocational rehabilitation (VR) program for people on or at risk of sick leave due to obesity or obesity-related problems.

Patients and methods: This prospective observational study included 95 participants with a body mass index (BMI) above 30 kg/m². The 1-year multidisciplinary VR program with an integrated work and lifestyle intervention included 4 weeks of inpatient stay followed-up by five meetings. Differences between baseline and 12-month follow-up data were analyzed for the change in explanatory variables WAS, DWP, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), BMI, and return-to-work self-efficacy (RTWSE). The primary outcome was measured by multiple linear regression for predicting WAS and DWP.

Results: We found significant changes in WAS (1.51, 95% CI: 0.83 to 2.20, p<0.001), DWP (18.69, 95% CI: 8.35 to 29.02, p<0.001), HRQoL (2.57, 95% CI: 1.35 to 3.79, p<0.001), BMI (-2.33, 95% CI: -3.10 to -1.56, p<0.001), and in RTWSE (15.89, 95% CI: 4.07 to 27.71, p = 0.009). Regression analysis yielded a strong association between WAS at 12-month follow-up with an increase in HRQoL (β=0.27, 95% CI: 0.16 to 0.38, p<0.001) and WAS baseline (β=0.49, 95% CI: 0.28 to 0.71, p<0.001). Further, regression analysis demonstrated a strong association between DWP at 12-month follow-up with return-to-work expectancy (RTWEXP) (β=-10.62, 95% CI: -15.25 to -6.03, p<0.001).

Conclusion: The results indicate positive changes in WAS, DWP, HRQoL, BMI, and RTWSE from baseline to 12-month follow-up. For people with BMI above 30 kg/m², changes in HRQoL are important for an increase in WAS, and a high RTWEXP is essential to achieve work participation. Future studies examining VR programs with lifestyle interventions for people with obesity are recommended.

Keywords: health-related quality of life; return-to-work expectancy; return-to-work self-efficacy.

Publication types

Case Reports
Clinical Trial

Grants and funding

The Central Norway Regional Health Authority funded this study. Volda University College provided PhD funding for Anita Dyb Linge.