Body composition and absenteeism risk among employees

Presenteeism, defined as reduced work performance owing to illness or symptoms, and absenteeism, defined as absence from work owing to illness or injury, pose significant challenges to worker productivity. This study aimed to examine the association between the risk of absenteeism and body composition, including skeletal muscle mass index and fat mass index (FMI), among employees.

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 55 employees from four companies between May and July 2024. The participants' body compositions were assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis, and presenteeism was measured using the version of the World Health Organization Health and Work Performance Questionnaire (WHO-HPQ). Both skeletal muscle mass index and fat mass index (FMI) were evaluated as key body composition parameters. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with absenteeism risk, defined as a relative presenteeism score of ≤0.8.

The FMI was significantly higher in the absenteeism risk group than in the non-absenteeism risk group, particularly among women participants. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that higher FMI (odds ratio [OR] = 1.55, 95 % confidence interval [CI] = 1.11-2.17, P = 0.011) and younger age (OR = 0.91, 95 % CI = 0.85-0.98, P = 0.011) were independently associated with absenteeism risk.

Higher FMI was independently associated with increased absenteeism risk, especially in women, and younger employees were more likely to be at risk of absenteeism. These associations may inform workplace health strategies; however, due to the cross-sectional design, no causal inferences can be drawn. Future longitudinal research is needed to determine whether improving body composition leads to reductions in absenteeism.