Full-Timers More Active Than Nonworkers

Men With Full-Time Jobs More Active Than Nonworkers

Men with full-time employment, even in sedentary occupations, are significantly more active than healthy nonworkers, according to a study published online July 12 in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. THURSDAY, July 14 (HealthDay News) — Men with full-time employment, even in sedentary occupations, are significantly more active than healthy non-workers, according to a study published online July 12 in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Dane R. Van Domelen, from the National Institute on Aging in Bethesda, Md., and colleagues assessed how employment status (full-time, part-time, or not employed) and job type (active or sedentary) are linked to daily physical activity levels. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey on 1,826 American adults, aged 18 to 20 years, who were monitored for four or more days, were collected in 2003 to 2004, and analyzed in 2010. Actigraph uniaxial accelerometers were used to measure physical activity. The average counts per minute during wear time and proportion of wear time spent in various intensity levels were the main variables evaluated.

The investigators found that men with full-time employment were significantly more active than healthy nonworkers. Based on weekday-only analyses of men, compared with healthy nonworkers, workers who had sedentary jobs were significantly more active and spent less time sedentary. However, in weekday analysis, women with full-time sedentary jobs spent significantly more time sedentary and had less light intensity activity than healthy nonworkers. Weekday activity was greater in full-time workers with active jobs than those with sedentary jobs (22 and 30 percent greater in men and women, respectively).

“The results suggest that full-time employment is positively associated with activity levels in men, and that job type is a strong predictor of daily activity levels in both genders,” the authors write.

Article: http://www.doctorslounge.com/index.php/news/pb/21612

Full Text: http://www.ajpmonline.org/webfiles/images/journals/amepre/AMEPRE%203110%20stamped.pdf