Different associations of stay-at-home exposure with changes in body mass index and cardiometabolic factors depending on occupational physical activity: a longitudinal quasi-experimental design

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by dabgoudw

Objectives: quantify the short-term impact of an unexpected stay-at-home exposure, triggered by a shipment suspension, on body mass index (BMI) and cardiometabolic markers among employees with different occupational physical activity levels. Methods: link health-check records from 8307 workers to attendance data covering January–April 2024; use interrupted time-series to assess BMI trajectories and mixed-effects models to relate stay-at-home duration to BMI and blood pressure across low-, medium-, and high-intensity job categories. Results: medium- and high-intensity workers show significant BMI increases at suspension onset, with a positive dose–response between absent duration and BMI gain in high-intensity jobs; systolic blood pressure rises with higher intensity. Conclusions: job-dependent physical activity confers heightened susceptibility to weight gain and blood pressure elevations during forced work interruptions.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages10

Reading Time25 min

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Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Key points

What is already known on this topic

What this study adds

How this study might affect research, practice, or policy

Introduction

Journal of Occupational Health, 2026, 68(1), uiaf069 [https://doi.org/10.1093/JOCCUH/uiaf069](https://doi.org/10.1093/JOCCUH/uiaf069) Advance access publication date 28 November 2025 Original Article Different associations of stay-at-home exposure with changes in body mass index and cardiometabolic factors depending on occupational physical activity: a longitudinal quasi-experimental design Daijiro Kabata 1 , *, Noriaki Kakiuchi2 , Takashi Marui2 , Naoko Ikeda2 , Mutsuko Kawai2 , Aki Kaimori2 , Noriko Saeki2 , Katsufumi Kajimoto2 , Riho Tanaka2 , Ayumi Zeniya2 , Fumi Yamanouchi2 , Saori Matsumiya2 and Yukihiro Koretsune2 1 Center for Mathematical and Data Science, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan 2 Safety & Health Care Department, Daihatsu Health Care Center, Daihatsu Motor Co, Ltd, Osaka, Japan *Corresponding author: Daijiro Kabata,([daijiro.kabata@port.kobe-u.ac.jp](daijiro.kabata@port.kobe-u.ac.jp)) Abstract Objectives: To quantify the short-term impact of an unexpected stay-at-home exposure, caused by a shipment suspension, on body mass index (BMI) and cardiometabolic markers among employees with different levels of occupational physical activity. Methods: Health-check records from 8307 workers at a large Japanese automobile manufacturer were linked to company attendance data covering a shipment suspension (January to April 2024) . An interrupted time-series assessed BMI trajectories before, during, and after the halt. Among 614 employees who underwent an additional examination in April 2024, mixed-effects models related the duration of stay-at-home to changes in BMI and blood pressure within low-, medium-, and high-intensity job categories. Results: Compared with pre-halt trends, medium-intensity and high-intensity workers showed significant level rises in BMI (0 .96 kg/m2 ; 95% CI,0 .56-1.36; and 0 .64 kg/m2 ; 95% CI,0 .24-1.04, respectively) at the onset of the suspension. Mixed-effects analyses showed a positive dose–response between the duration of stay-at-home and BMI gain in high-intensity jobs (0 .47 kg/m2 per 20% absent days; 95% CI, 0.37-0.58) . Per 20% of scheduled workdays absent, systolic blood pressure was higher in the medium-and high-intensity groups. No significant effects were observed among sedentary workers. Conclusions: Employees whose daily energy expenditure relies on job-related physical activity are especially susceptible to weight gain and blood pressure elevations during forced work interruptions. Business continuity plans should embed tailored countermeasures—such as structured exercise programs and phased returns to on-site duties—to safeguard metabolic health during future operational disruptions. Key points: • What is already known on this topic: Pandemic-era studies have suggested that stay-at-home orders reduce physical activity and promote weight gain, but evidence is scarce for manual-labor employees whose daily energy expenditure depends on their jobs; previous analyses were confounded by infection-control policies. • What this study adds: Exploiting an unexpected 4-month shipment suspension at a Japanese automobile plant, this interrupted time-series and mixed-effects analysis of 8307 workers showed that BMI and systolic blood pressure rose most sharply among high-intensity (physically demanding) occupations, with a dose–response relationship between days absent and cardiometabolic deterioration, whereas sedentary workers were largely unaffected. • How this study might affect research, practice, or policy: The findings indicate that business continuity and occupational health plans should embed targeted countermeasures—structured at-home exercise, phased on-site returns, rotating shifts, and stress-management resources—to preserve metabolic health during future work stoppages. We provide a quasi-experimental framework for evaluating such interventions. Keywords: occupational physical activity; stay-at-home; body mass index; cardiometabolic risk; interrupt

FAQs

What event was used to create the stay-at-home exposure in this study?

The study used an unexpected shipment suspension that resulted in employees being exposed to an unplanned stay-at-home period from January to April 2024.

How did the researchers evaluate changes in BMI and cardiometabolic markers?

They linked health-check records with attendance data and applied an interrupted time-series approach for BMI trajectories, followed by mixed-effects models to relate the duration of stay-at-home to BMI and blood pressure by job intensity category.

Which occupational physical activity groups showed the largest health changes?

Medium-intensity and high-intensity workers exhibited significant BMI level rises at the onset of the suspension, and high-intensity jobs showed a dose–response relationship between days absent and BMI gain. Sedentary workers showed no significant effects.

What practical implications does the study suggest?

Business continuity and occupational health plans should incorporate targeted countermeasures, such as structured at-home exercise and phased returns to on-site duties, to protect metabolic health during future operational disruptions.

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by dabgoudw