Here’s something to think about. A survey conducted by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health showed that truckers display an array of risk factors for chronic disease including high blood pressure, obesity, and high cholesterol. The study also showed that truckers are more likely to smoke, and that their physical activity and sleep patterns also put them at increased risk for illness.
The study further demonstrated that 69% of truck drivers surveyed were obese, with 17% classified as “morbidly obese.”
This determination was made by measuring each participant’s body mass index. The results of the survey showed that truckers are twice as likely to be obese than the general population.
3,759 truckers were surveyed for this study with 1,670 qualifying as long haul drivers, who were the main focus of this study.
Eighty-eight percent of the drivers surveyed said they have at least one risk factor compared to only 54% of the general U.S. working population. That means truck drivers are 64% more likely to develop a chronic disease than the general population. More than 60 percent of the survey participants were between the ages of 40 – 59, 17 percent between the ages of 30-39, and 14.8 percent between 60 and 69 years old.
In addition to citing risk factors, the study further “suggests a need for targeted interventions to meet the health needs of [long-haul drivers] and surveillance through repeated data collections to track progress in meeting those health needs.”
What do you think about this truckers? It seems like you are constantly being monitored and checked regarding how to do your job, but how about monitoring your health and wellness?