Business trips lead to health risks: study

Elk Grove Village, IL – Traveling frequently for work may put you at increased risk for health ailments, including obesity and high blood pressure, indicates a study released April 22 by the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

Nearly 80 percent of the more than 13,000 study participants traveled for business at least one night per month, and 1 percent were on the road more than 20 nights per month.

Results showed that extensive travelers were 260 percent more likely than light travelers to rate their health as fair to poor. Additionally, obesity was 92 percent more likely among extensive travelers, who also were more likely to have high blood pressure and unfavorable cholesterol levels.

Researchers speculated that poor sleep, fattening food and long periods of inactivity while traveling may contribute to poorer health among those engaged in frequent business travel. They recommended employers consider offering stress management classes, choose hotels with onsite fitness facilities or reimburse healthy meal choices as methods to improve worker health on the road.

The study was published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.