Association between procrastination, white-collar work and obesity in Japanese male workers: a cross-sectional study

To investigate the associations among procrastination (time inconsistency), work environment and obesity-related factors in Japanese male workers.

Cross-sectional study.

Data were collected at two work sites of Japanese electronics manufacturing company in 2015.

795 full-time male workers in a Japanese electric company, aged 35-64 years, who underwent health checkups in 2015.

Body mass index (BMI), adult weight change, obesity (BMI ≥25 kg/m²), adult weight gain over 10 kg (AWG10) and metabolic syndrome (MetS). Multivariable linear and logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the associations of procrastination assessed by using a one-item questionnaire and white-collar and blue-collar work with obesity-related factors.

White-collar workers with high procrastination levels showed positive associations with BMI (B: 0.75, 95% CI 0.06 to 1.44) and adult weight change (B: 1.77, 95% CI 0.26 to 3.29), and had increased odds of AWG10 (OR: 1.85, 95% CI 1.04 to 3.29) and MetS (OR: 2.29 95% CI 1.18 to 4.44) after adjustment for age, education, work-related factors and lifestyle factors. However, such positive associations were not observed among blue-collar workers.

Procrastination and white-collar work might have a joint effect on weight gain during adulthood and consequential obesity.