Two industrial cohorts: baseline characteristics and factors associated with obesity.

Objective: To describe demographic and health characteristics, and factors associated with obesity among production workers.
Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed baseline data from two occupational cohorts. Regression modeling was used to assess associations between worker characteristics and obesity.
Results: A total of 1974 subjects were included in these analyses. The mean body mass index was 29.5 kg/m (SD = 6.5). Having smoked in the past and currently smoking decreased the odds of being obese in the WISTAH Distal Upper Extremity cohort, whereas those feeling depressed had increased odds of being obese. Being a Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiian and married increased the odds of obesity in the BackWorks Low Back Pain cohort.
Conclusions: Factors associated with obesity differed substantially between the two cohorts. Recognizing factors associated with obesity in specific work settings may provide opportunities for optimizing preventive workplace interventions.