Jul 23, 2014 05:22 PM EDT By J Baulkman, UniversityHerald Reporter

Obesity may be linked to low endurance and increased fatigue in the workplace, according to a recent study.

Researchers found that people who are obese may have significantly shorter endurance times when performing workplace tasks, compared with their non-obese counterparts.

The prevalence of obesity has doubled over the past three decades and this increase has been associated with more healthcare costs, higher rates of workplace injury, and a greater number of lost workdays.

"Our findings indicated that on average, approximately 40 percent shorter endurance times were found in the obese group, with the largest differences in the hand grip and simulated assembly tasks.  During those tasks, individuals in the obese group also exhibited greater declines in task performance, though this difference was only evident among females," researcher Lora A. Cavuoto said in a statement.

For the study, researchers examined the endurance of 32 individuals in four categories (non-obese young, obese young, non-obese older, and obese older) who completed three distinct tasks that involved a range of upper extremity demands -- hand grip, intermittent shoulder elevation, and a simulated assembly operation. Each task involved periods of work and rest, and included pacing demands similar to those experienced by workers in manufacturing settings.

In addition to examining how obesity affected physical demands and capacity, researchers looked at the interactive effect of obesity and age on endurance times. 

"Previous studies have indicated that both age and obesity lead to decreased mobility, particularly when it comes to walking and performing lower extremity tasks. However, we found no evidence of an interactive effect of obesity and age on endurance times, which is contrary to previous findings," researcher Maury A. Nussbaum said in a statement.

Obesity is associated with physiological changes at the muscular level, including a decrease in blood flow, thereby limiting the supply of oxygen and energy sources. When performing sustained contractions, these physiological changes may lead to a faster onset of muscle fatigue.

Researchers said the results from this study will contribute to a better understanding of the ergonomic impacts of obesity and age, which is important for describing the link between personal factors and the risk of workplace injury.

The findings were recently published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene.

See Now: Covert Team Inside Newsweek Revealed as Key Players in False Human Trafficking Lawsuit