Leisure, Home, and Occupational Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Postmenopausal Women

Abstract BackgroundThe impact of occupational physical activity (OPA) intensity, considering adults work many hours a day, on health is unknown. The present study aims to evaluate the association between the high intensity of OPA and cardiovascular risk factors of employees.MethodsA cross-sectional study was carried out in the “Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas S.A. Company” (FCC S.A. Delegation) in 2017, Spain. The intensity of OPA of each employee was classified by work categories in low (≤ 3 METs) or high (> 3 METs). Health and lifestyle data of employees were collected on medical consultation in the workplace.ResultsAssociations were analyzed between the high intensity of OPA and cardiovascular risk factors of employees. 751 employees, 55.5% (n = 417) with high intensity of OPA. An 82.2% (n = 245) of employees with low intensity of OPA presented overweight/obesity compared with 69.0% (n = 171) with high intensity of OPA employees (p < 0.001). In men, high intensity of OPA is negatively associated with Body Mass Index (BMI) (B: -0.042, p = 0.003), waist circumference (B: -0.027, p < 0.001) waist-hip ratio (B: -5.484, p < 0.001), cholesterol (B: -0.007, p = 0.001) and triglycerides (B= -0.003, p = 0.025). In women, high intensity of OPA was positively associated with blood pressure (BP) (systolic BP: B = 0.036, p = 0.005 and diastolic BP: B = 0.040, p = 0.021).ConclusionsIn conclusion, the high intensity of OPA is associated with less cardiovascular risk factors in men, whereas women are associated with high levels of blood pressure, suggesting an influence of gender and work categories.

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Leisure-time and occupational physical activity in relation to cardiovascular risk factors and eating habits in French adults

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1079/phn2005882 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

pp. 746-754 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

J-M Oppert ◽

F Thomas ◽

M-A Charles ◽

A Benetos ◽

A Basdevant ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Cardiovascular Risk ◽

Waist Circumference ◽

Cardiovascular Risk Factors ◽

Leisure Time ◽

Eating Habits ◽

Leisure Time Physical Activity ◽

Health Examination ◽

Occupational Physical Activity

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate the relationships of two main physical activity domains (during leisure and at work) with cardiovascular risk factors and eating habits.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingPreventive medicine centre.SubjectsIn 5478 adults (32% women, aged 20–80 years) who consecutively underwent a standardised health examination, leisure-time physical activity (LTPA; i.e. non-sport leisure and sport activities), occupational physical activity (OPA) and eating habits were assessed by self-administered questionnaires. We analysed sex-specific relationships of LTPA and OPA (in quartiles) with (1) various cardiovascular risk factors and (2) eating habits using analysis of variance and logistic regression, respectively.ResultsIn both genders, with and without adjustment for education in addition to age, LTPA was associated negatively with body mass index, body fat, waist circumference, resting heart rate, diastolic blood pressure and triglycerides, and positively associated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (all P ≤ 0.005). OPA adjusted for age only was positively associated with most cardiovascular risk factors but these associations were not significant after further adjustment on education (except for waist circumference in women). Age- and education-adjusted LTPA was associated with increased frequency of consumption of fruits (odds ratio (OR) = 2.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.68–2.52 in men; OR = 1.90, 95% CI 1.41–2.05 in women) and vegetables (OR = 1.81, 95% CI 1.48–2.21 in men; OR = 2.22, 95% CI 1.66–2.97 in women).ConclusionsThe data emphasise the favourable associations of LTPA, a modifiable behaviour, with various cardiovascular risk factors and healthy eating habits. The results also suggest that the relationships of OPA with cardiovascular risk factors depend, at least in part, on socio-economic status as reflected by educational level.

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