The Relationship Between Absenteeism and Obesity and The Role of Workplace Health Promotion Programmes in Relation to Both

The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between obesity and absenteeism. It also aimed to explore the role of workplace health promotion programmes in relation to both of these issues. It was an appropriate study in the current economic time, given organisational desire to save money and the Irish governments pledge to solve the obesity crisis in the country. Quantitative methods were used in this research in the form of identical online and pen and paper surveys. The survey gathered demographic information including height and weight as well as information on frequency of absences, job performance and workplace health promotion programmes. The hypotheses that there would be a higher frequency of absences and presenteesim for those who are obese compared to their non-obese counterparts were rejected. Likewise, the hypotheses that organisations that score highest on the employee reported workplace health friendliness scale, there will be lower levels of obesity and reduced frequency of absenteeism were also rejected. Other findings included a significant difference in body mass index (BMI) depending on occupation and a significant difference in health perception depending on BMI