Occupational Physical Activity Opposes Obesity: A Cross-Sectional Modern Replication of the Morris 1953 London Busmen Study

Physical Activity and Excess Body Weight and Adiposity for Adults. American College of Sports Medicine Consensus Statement

ABSTRACT

Excessive body weight and adiposity contribute to many adverse health concerns. The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recognizes that the condition of excess body weight and adiposity is complex, with numerous factors warranting consideration. The ACSM published a position stand on this topic in 2001 with an update in 2009, and a consensus paper on the role of physical activity in the prevention of weight gain in 2019. This current consensus paper serves as an additional update to those prior ACSM position and consensus papers. The ACSM supports the inclusion of physical activity in medical treatments (pharmacotherapy, metabolic and bariatric surgery) of excess weight and adiposity, as deemed to be medically appropriate, and provides perspectives on physical activity within these therapies. For weight loss and prevention of weight gain, the effects may be most prevalent when physical activity is progressed in an appropriate manner to at least 150 min·wk-1 of moderate-intensity physical activity, and these benefits occur in a dose-response manner. High-intensity interval training does not appear to be superior to moderate-to-vigorous physical activity for body weight regulation, and light-intensity physical activity may also be an alternative approach provided it is of sufficient energy expenditure. Evidence does not support that any one single mode of physical activity is superior to other modes for the prevention of weight gain or weight loss, and to elicit holistic health benefits beyond the effects on body weight and adiposity, multimodal physical activity should be recommended. The interaction between energy expenditure and energy intake is complex, and the effects of exercise on the control of appetite are variable between individuals. Physical activity interventions should be inclusive and tailored for sex, self-identified gender, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, age, and developmental level. Intervention approaches can also include different forms, channels, and methods to support physical activity.

Heart Rate Response and Flexibility Following Single Bout of Training Using a Seated Elliptical Trainer Among Younger and Older Adults

The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of a 30-minute activity session using a seated elliptical trainer on heart rate response, knee and ankle range of motion and satisfaction among older and younger adults. Prior to and following completing a 30-minute bout of activity using a seated elliptical trainer, each participant’s leg flexibility was assessed. During every minute of the activity, the participant’s heart rate was recorded. Following the activity, the participants reported their satisfaction with the trainer. Older participants exhibited a greater heart rate response relative to their estimated maximum heart rate during and reported greater satisfaction with the elliptical trainer compared with younger participants. Both groups increased their leg flexibility following use of the trainer. Nurses could prescribe 30 minutes of activity using a seated elliptical trainer to employees in sedentary occupations to improve cardiovascular health and leg flexibility particularly among older adults.

Associations Between Occupational and Leisure-Time Physical Activity With Employee Stress, Burnout and Well-Being Among Healthcare Industry Workers

PURPOSE

Examine the associations of occupational and leisure-time physical activity with job stress, burnout, and well-being among healthcare industry workers.

DESIGN

Quantitative; cross-sectional.

SETTING

Healthcare Industry.

SAMPLE

US Amazon Mechanical Turk participants (n = 550) employed in the healthcare industry, worked 35 hours or more per week, had ≥ 1 supervisor and ≥ 1 co-worker, and were ≥ 18 years old.

MEASURES

Self-reported measures of occupational physical activity (OPA) and leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), employee well-being, job stress, and burnout operationalized as exhaustion and disengagement.

ANALYSIS

Associations between OPA and LTPA with employee well-being, job stress, exhaustion and disengagement were assessed with separate multiple linear regression models.

RESULTS

OPA had positive significant associations with job stress (β = 0.10, P value = .003) and exhaustion (β = 0.21, P value < .0001). No significant associations were found between OPA with other psychological outcomes. A significant inverse association was found between LTPA and exhaustion (β = -0.04, P value = .007).

CONCLUSION

In a sample of U.S. health care workers, and consistent with prior epidemiological studies, greater LTPA was associated with lower feelings of exhaustion. In contrast, health care workers with greater OPA reported higher perceptions of job stress and exhaustion. The findings underscore the need for more research aimed at understanding relationships between OPA and psychological health among healthcare workers.

Associations of physical activity at work and household income with obesity: a cross-sectional study among rural adults in Korea

OBJECTIVES

This study was performed to identify the effect of physical activity at work on obesity and to analyze the contribution of socioeconomic factors and health behaviors to this association, which has been relatively little studied.

METHODS

From the Korean National Cancer Center Community Cohort, a total of 5,587 adults (2,125 men; 3,462 women) aged more than 30 years living in rural areas were enrolled. Information on socio-demographic factors, health behaviors, and body mass index was gathered using face-to-face interviews and measurements of height and weight.

RESULTS

Inverse associations were identified between vigorous-intensity physical activity at work and obesity in both men and women, while no association was found between vigorous-intensity physical activity during leisure time and obesity. High household income was independently associated with a lower risk of obesity among those who had low levels of vigorous-intensity physical activity at work. Vigorous physical activity at work showed an inverse association with obesity in rural areas where heavy manual labor is common.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate the necessity to account for various types of physical activity to improve the assessment and prevention of obesity.

Associations Between Office Location and Adiposity in Office Workers

OBJECTIVE

Evaluate whether having to walk longer distances to common destinations within office buildings is associated with less adiposity and greater occupational physical activity.

METHODS

Distances between offices and amenities were measured for 108 office-based workers, as was body fat percentage, waist circumference, number of sedentary breaks at work, and duration and intensity of activity at work.

RESULTS

Being further away from the building entrance was correlated with lower body fat percentage. Greater distance from a participant's office to the copier was associated with smaller waist circumferences. Correlations were found between distance to the bathroom and work activity, and sedentary breaks with distance to the break room and distance from the printer or copier.

CONCLUSIONS

Worksites interested in improving the health of their employees should consider how building design affects occupational physical activity and health.

Combined effect of physical activity and sedentary behavior on body composition in university students

BACKGROUND & AIMS

This study aimed to evaluate the domain-specific physical activity (PA) levels and sitting time of a sample of university students and examine the association of PA with percent body fat.

METHODS

Two hundred and twenty-one students were included in the analysis. We administered the long form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) twice within one-month interval. Total PA as well as occupational, transportation-, housework-, and leisure-related PA were assessed, in addition to sitting time. Dietary intake was derived from six non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls. Percent body fat (dependent variable) was analyzed using a bioelectrical impedance analyzer (BIA). Multivariate logistic regression, adjusted for potential confounders, examined the associations of domain-specific PA and sitting time with percent body fat.

RESULTS

Men had higher levels of total and leisure PA than women. All participants had prolonged sitting time, with 48% having a sitting time of more than 10.15 hours/day. In multivariate analysis, moderate leisure PA, compared to vigorous PA was associated with a lower percent body fat. This association remained statistically significant even after adjustment for energy intake and sitting time. Housework-related PA was associated with a higher percent body fat.

CONCLUSION

Moderate leisure PA was highly associated with percent body fat even after adjustment for confounding variables. Adequate interventions targeting this kind of leisure should be promoted among universities students.