Abstract
Background
Beyond medical complications, people with obesity experience dramatic impairment of
quality of life, including adverse workplace effects. Obesity results in weight-based
discrimination and a high rate of unemployment because of work disability, absenteeism,
loss of productivity, and cost. A few studies have been performed to assess the relationship
between obesity surgery and the workplace, finding an improvement in weekly working
hours and productivity and a decrease in absenteeism, days of sick leave, and state
benefit claims. However, the results are still controversial concerning the overall
employment rate.
Objectives
This study aimed to compare the employment rate before and 2 years after obesity surgery
and to evaluate the difference in weight loss between worker and nonworker patients.
Setting
Participants were recruited from a tertiary care university hospital in France.
Methods
The 2-year outcomes of all patients who underwent obesity surgery between 2010 and
2015 were retrospectively reviewed. The employment status was recorded preoperatively
and postoperatively. Retired or permanently disabled patients were excluded from the
analysis.
Results
Preoperatively, 158 of 238 patients were employed compared with 199 of 238 postoperatively
(P < .0001). There was no difference in weight loss between the worker and nonworker
patients regarding the percentage of excess weight loss and the change in body mass
index.
Conclusion
This study supports the finding that bariatric surgery also has a positive impact
on the professional sphere, providing the opportunity for unemployed patients to return
to work.
Key words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 19, 2018
Accepted:
June 29,
2018
Received in revised form:
June 18,
2018
Received:
May 2,
2018
Identification
Copyright
© 2018 American Society for Bariatric Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
