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Determinants of metabolic syndrome in obese workers: gender differences in perceived job-related stress and in psychological characteristics identified using artificial neural networks

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Abstract

Objective

The metabolic syndrome (MS) is a multifactorial disorder associated with a higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. However, its pathophysiology and risk factors are still poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the associations among gender, psychosocial variables, job-related stress and the presence of MS in a cohort of obese Caucasian workers.

Methods

A total of 210 outpatients (142 women, 68 men) from an occupational medicine service was enrolled in the study. Age, BMI, waist circumference, fasting glucose, blood pressure, triglycerides and HDL cholesterol were collected to define MS. In addition, we evaluated eating behaviors, depressive symptoms, and work-related stress. Data analyses were performed with an artificial neural network algorithm called Auto Semantic Connectivity Map (AutoCM), using all available variables.

Results

MS was diagnosed in 54.4 and 33.1% of the men and women, respectively. AutoCM evidenced gender-specific clusters associated with the presence or absence of MS. Men with a moderate occupational physical activity, obesity, older age and higher levels of decision-making freedom at work were more likely to have a diagnosis of MS than women. Women with lower levels of decision-making freedom, and higher levels of psychological demands and social support at work had a lower incidence of MS but showed higher levels of binge eating and depressive symptomatology.

Conclusion

We found a complex gender-related association between MS, psychosocial risk factors and occupational determinants. The use of these information in surveillance workplace programs might prevent the onset of MS and decrease the chance of negative long-term outcomes.

Level of evidence

Level V, observational study.

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Funding

The authors did not receive any form of funding.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Preventive Medicine, Occupational Health Unit, Clinica del Lavoro Luigi Devoto, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Via Francesco Sforza 35, 20122, Milan, Italy

    Luisella Vigna, Diana M. Conti, Gianna M. Agnelli & Luciano Riboldi

  2. Rehabilitation Medicine, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, S. Giuseppe Hospital, Verbania, Italy

    Amelia Brunani

  3. Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy

    Agostino Brugnera & Angelo Compare

  4. Villa Santa Maria Foundation, Tavernerio, Italy

    Enzo Grossi

  5. Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry and Microbiology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy

    Amedea S. Tirelli

  6. National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Lars L. Andersen

  7. Sport Sciences, Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark

    Lars L. Andersen

  8. Semeion Research Centre of Sciences of Communication, Rome, Italy

    Massimo Buscema

  9. University of Colorado, Denver, CO, USA

    Massimo Buscema

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  1. Luisella Vigna
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  2. Amelia Brunani
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  4. Enzo Grossi
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  7. Diana M. Conti
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Correspondence to Luisella Vigna.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Vigna, L., Brunani, A., Brugnera, A. et al. Determinants of metabolic syndrome in obese workers: gender differences in perceived job-related stress and in psychological characteristics identified using artificial neural networks. Eat Weight Disord 24, 73–81 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-018-0536-8

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