Job strain and binge eating among Brazilian workers participating in the ELSA-Brasil study: does BMI matter?

Abstract

Objective

To assess the association between job strain and binge eating as well as the effect-modifying influence of body mass index (BMI) on this association.

Methods

A total of 11,951 active civil servants from the multicenter Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil) was included in this cross-sectional analysis. Job strain was assessed using the Demand-Control-Support Questionnaire. Binge eating was defined as eating a large amount of food with a sense of lack of control over what and how much is eaten in less than 2 hours at least twice a week. Multiple logistic regression was used to determine the association between binge eating and job strain as well as its interaction with BMI.

Results

After adjustment, and using low-strain job as the reference category, binge eating was associated with high-strain job (high demand/low control: odds ratio [OR] = 1.58, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.26-1.98), active job (high demand/high control: OR =1.35, 95% CI 1.07-1.70), and passive job (low demand/low control: OR=1.24, 95% CI 1.01-1.53). Psychological job demands were positively associated with binge eating (OR=1.04, 95% CI 1.01-1.07), while greater job control and social support at work were each inversely associated with binge eating (OR = 0.95, 95% CI 0.92-0.97 and OR = 0.96, 95% CI 0.94-0.98, respectively). BMI modified the association between job strain and binge eating: Heavier psychological job demands were associated with higher odds of binge eating among obese participants, while a stronger inverse association between job control and binge eating was seen among slimmer participants.

Conclusions

Job strain increases the odds of binge eating and this association is modified by BMI.

Feeding and eating disorders, Obesity, Psychological stress, Work