Prevalence of obesity: Comparison of commerce vs. industry sector and associated variables

Obesity has been considered the pandemic of the 21st century due to its high prevalence and the significant morbidity and mortality it entails. The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of obesity in two occupational sectors and to determine the variables associated with it.

This is a cross-sectional and descriptive study involving 56,856 workers from the commerce and industrial sectors. Anthropometric, clinical, analytical, and sociodemographic data were collected during medical examinations conducted between 2017 and 2019.

The prevalence of obesity was found to be significantly higher in the industrial sector compared to the commerce sector. Factors such as age, sex, educational level, physical activity, adherence to the Mediterranean diet, and smoking showed significant associations with the four scales of excess weight evaluated. Among these, age, physical activity level, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet demonstrated the strongest associations. In the industrial sector, obesity may be related to work-related stress, prolonged shifts, and limited access to healthy food, whereas in the commerce sector, sedentary behaviour and poor dietary habits were identified as key contributing factors.

Specific strategies tailored to each occupational sector are recommended, including active breaks, the promotion of physical activity, and access to healthy foods. While the study has strengths such as its large sample size and multivariate analysis, the cross-sectional design and lack of control for certain confounding variables limit its ability to establish causality. The findings underscore the need for preventive policies adapted to workplace environments to mitigate the impact of obesity.