[Relationship between lifestyle and subjective symptoms in a food products company]

Although the relationship between lifestyle and subjective symptoms has been reported in the general population, relatively few studies have looked at the link between these two in workplace. To investigate the relationship between lifestyle and subjective symptoms, a cross-sectional study was carried out using data from 4,540 workers aged 20-69 years old in a food products company. The subjective symptoms with a prevalence of more than 10% in either males or females were selected as dependent variables: fatigue, dropsical swelling of hands or feet, stiff neck or shoulders, backpain, deterioration of eye sight, dizziness, diarrhea and constipation. We used a multiple logistic regression model to calculate the odds ratio(OR) and 95% confidence interval(CI) for each subjective symptom according to lifestyle: regular physical activity, proper sleeping, nine hours or less of work, having breakfast, having a nutritionally balanced diet, no smoking and moderate drinking of alcohol. We adjusted for age and type of occupation by gender. The findings confirmed the relationship between smoking and alcohol drinking and subjective symptoms in both genders. In addition, proper sleeping was likely to prevent musculoskeletal symptoms in females.