"Why Do Non-Regular Workers Have Higher Rates of Diabetes and Hypertension Despite Eating Less Than Regular Workers?"

Ulsan University Research Team Analyzes 2,366 Wage Workers
Shows Differences in Average Daily Calorie Intake

A study has found that the health status of wage workers is related to their employment situation. According to the research, non-regular workers have higher prevalence rates of hypertension and diabetes compared to regular workers, while regular workers have a higher obesity rate than non-regular workers.

On the 25th, the Korea Food Communication Forum reported that a research team led by Professor Byeongyong Ahn from the Department of Food and Nutrition at Ulsan University analyzed the health status by employment type of 2,366 wage workers (1,248 regular workers and 1,215 non-regular workers) who participated in the 2016?2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

A study has found that the health conditions of wage workers are related to their employment status. Among wage workers, non-regular employees were found to have a relatively higher prevalence of hypertension and diabetes compared to regular employees, while regular employees showed a higher obesity rate than non-regular employees.
[Image source=Pixabay]

According to the research team, the obesity rate was more than 5% higher in regular workers (37.3%) compared to non-regular workers (31.8%). The proportion of normal weight individuals was also lower in regular workers (38.7%) than in non-regular workers (41.8%).

On the other hand, the prevalence of hypertension was about 5% higher in non-regular workers (26.2%) than in regular workers (21.3%). The prediabetes rate was also higher in non-regular workers (26.3%) compared to regular workers (20.6%). Notably, the prevalence of diabetes was nearly twice as high in non-regular workers (8.4%) as in regular workers (4.9%). The rate of impaired fasting glucose was also higher in non-regular workers (25.3%) than in regular workers (23.8%).

The two groups also showed differences in average daily calorie intake. Regular workers consumed an average of 2,194 kcal per day, which was more than 250 kcal higher than the 1,930 kcal consumed by non-regular workers. Both regular and non-regular workers consumed less cholesterol than the daily intake limit (300 mg).

Sodium, one of the causes of hypertension, was consumed at 1.8 times the recommended daily intake (2,000 mg or less) by regular workers and 1.7 times by non-regular workers.

In the paper, Professor Ahn’s team pointed out, "When diabetes was confirmed based on glycated hemoglobin and fasting blood glucose levels, both indicators were higher in non-regular workers than in regular workers," adding, "Research has also shown that the risk of developing type 2 (adult-onset) diabetes, which is common in Korea, is associated with lower socio-economic status."

People with lower socio-economic status may find it very difficult to manage diabetes comprehensively, including diet, exercise, and medication treatment.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.