Is Insulin Resistance Work Related?

Incidence of insulin resistance continues to grow, becoming a major public health concern worldwide. Besides the classical risk factors (obesity, unhealthy nutrition and lack of exercise), extensive research about some occupational hazards supports their association with insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. On the one hand, the classical risk factors for insulin resistance are augmented by the changes of the working conditions: the occupational level of physical activity has a tendency to decrease, reducing its contribution to the overall level of physical activity and favouring a sedentary lifestyle and the occupational stress became the second most common work-related health issue, contributing to the increase of the maladaptive habits, such as unhealthy nutrition. On the other hand, some insulin resistance risk factors are primarily occupational hazards: desynchronization of the circadian rhythm and sleep disruption during the night shifts, workplace air pollution (particles, solvents), heavy metals (arsenic, mercury) or persistent organic pollutants exposure. Meantime, workplaces are excellent settings for health-promotion programmes and metabolic risk reduction, if there is managerial commitment and support. Therefore, assessment of the risk, screening and workplace intervention programmes to reduce insulin resistance incidence should be included in the occupational health service provision.