Four day working week good for tackling obesity Experts claim a four-day working week could help tackle Britain's obesity crisis by reducing stress, improving sleep and giving people more time to exercise and cook healthy meals. 14 May 2026 A four-day working week could help slash obesity rates, reduce stress and even ease pressure on health services, experts claim. A woman working at her desk Researchers found countries where people work the longest hours tend to have the highest obesity rates, despite shorter-working nations often eating less healthy diets.