Obesidade e Capacidade de Trabalho.

Abstract

Introduction / framework / objectives Work Capacity can be defined as the extent to which an employee is able, in the present, and possibly in the future, to perform their tasks, depending on their state of health and physical and mental capacities. Companies will be more competitive if they have healthier workers. The better the variables involved in Work Capacity are known, easier the Occupational Health will be managed. Methodology This is a Bibliographic Review, initiated through a search carried out in August 2021 in the databases “CINALH plus with full text, Medline with full text, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Methodology Register, Nursing and Allied Health Collection: comprehensive, MedicLatina and RCAAP”. Contents Overweight or Obese employees, on average, are absent from work more days per year. Obesity is associated with longer absenteeism and these, in turn, have a higher unemployment rate, due to the associated pathologies (musculoskeletal, cardiovascular and emotional). However, it should be noted that norms vary between countries and systems, so when absence from work due to illness is unpaid, it tends to be shorter than when it is, especially if at 100%. In older workers, Obesity doubles the risk of losing a job. Changes in Work Capacity may be justified by lower cardiovascular fitness, less response to physical demands and due to the comorbidities. This may be more prevalent in the lower socioeconomic strata and, in these, physical work is also more frequent, with less pay and less support for absence due to disability. Obesity and a high workload are associated with worse Work Capacity, possibly synergistically, through musculoskeletal and cardiovascular issues and/or changes in pulmonary function/symptoms, as intra-abdominal pressure increases. That is, individuals with a Body Mass Index greater than 30 have respiratory symptoms six times more likely. Discussion and Conclusions Although the bibliography on the subject is not abundant, there is reasonably consensual regarding the negative interaction between Excess Weight/Obesity and the Ability to Work; therefore, any measure that benefits the first situation will also benefit the second, with emphasis on Exercise and caloric restriction. However, the subject is sometimes not properly valued by workers or a part of them is not even receptive to approaching the subject, even becoming aggressive when a health professional tries to take this path. Keywords: obesity, overweight, work capacity, occupational health and occupational medicine.