Abstract

Background

Adults spend a large proportion of their day at work. Physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour (SB) have been shown to vary considerably between occupations. The objective of this study is to describe occupational differences in accelerometer-measured and self-reported PA and SB for Canadian full-time workers.

Data and methods

Using combined data from three cycles of the nationally representative Canadian Health Measures Survey (N = 4,080), three activity groups (high, intermediate, low) were created based on a composite ranking of accelerometer-derived steps, proportion of time spent sedentary (SED%) and moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) in bouts of ⋝10 minutes (MVPAbouted). Differences between groups were assessed for accelerometer-derived and self-reported PA and SB, and sociodemographic and clinical characteristics.

Results

On average, Canadians employed in full-time work were sedentary for 68.9% of their day (95% confidence interval [CI]: 68.3% to 69.6%), took 8,984 steps per day (95% CI: 8,719 to 9,249) and accumulated 79.5 minutes per week of MVPAbouted (95% CI: 71.1 to 87.9). Among Canadians employed in full-time work, 18.5% met the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines. The high-activity group took significantly more steps and had a lower SED%, but spent a higher proportion of time in light-intensity PA compared with the intermediate- and low-activity groups. No differences were observed for MVPA. The low-activity group reported more recreational and active travel-related PA and leisure reading, while those in the high-activity group reported more work and domestic PA and leisure screen time.

Interpretation

The majority of full-time working adults are not getting adequate MVPA and spend most of their day sedentary, regardless of occupation. Findings support workplace policies to improve MVPA levels among Canadian workers and to promote awareness for the potential benefit of occupation-specific messaging around PA and SB.

Keywords

occupation, physical activity, sedentary behaviour

DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.25318/82-003-x202000900002-eng

Findings

Regular physical activity (PA) is known to protect against several chronic conditions (e.g., diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer) and premature all-cause mortality. There is also evidence that greater sedentary behaviour (SB) (waking behaviours while sitting, reclining and lying down) increases one’s risk for many of the same chronic diseases and for premature mortality. Available evidence suggests that large volumes (∼60 to 75 minutes per day) of walking or leisure/recreational moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) can offset the risks associated with prolonged sitting. A large proportion of Canadian adults are at increased risk for poor health outcomes as the majority (82.5%) do not meet PA guidelines (⋝150 minutes per week of MVPA in ⋝10-minute bouts) and are sedentary for much of the day (9.6 hours). Since adults spend a large amount of their day at work (∼8 hours) and PA levels vary considerably between occupations,7 PA and SB at work may have a significant influence on overall daily PA and SB levels. This is particularly troubling since higher-income countries such as Canada are experiencing a transition toward more sedentary occupations. [Full article]

Authors

Stephanie A. Prince (stephanie.princeware@canada.ca), Karen C. Roberts and Wendy Thompson are with the Centre for Surveillance and Applied Research at the Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. Stephanie A. Prince is also with the School of Epidemiology and Public Health in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada. Jennifer L. Reed is with the Exercise Physiology and Cardiovascular Health Lab, Division of Cardiac Prevention and Rehabilitation at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, the School of Epidemiology and Public Health in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ottawa, and the School of Human Kinetics, Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada. Aviroop Biswas is with the Institute for Work and Health in Toronto, Ontario, and the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto. Rachel C. Colley is with the Health Analysis Division at Statistics Canada in Ottawa, Ontario.

 

What is already known on the subject?

  • Adults spend a large amount of their day at work (∼8 hours), and physical activity levels are known to vary considerably between occupations.
  • Differences are known to exist between men and women regarding the types of occupations they undertake, their activities outside of work hours, and in their occupational and leisure-time physical activity.
  • The majority of studies that have examined differences in device-assessed physical activity and sedentary behaviour by occupation groupings have been conducted in smaller, non-representative samples, have focused on a single physical activity outcome, and have neglected to describe gender differences.

What does this study add?

  • On average, Canadian full-time working adults spend the majority (69%) of their total day being sedentary and do not meet the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines for Adults.
  • Total device-measured physical activity and sedentary behaviour differ by occupation.
  • Within occupational categories, men and women engaged in different amounts of physical activity and sedentary behaviour.
  • Canadian workers in “high-activity” occupations took more steps, spent more time in lighter-intensity physical activity, and spent less time sedentary than those employed in “intermediate-activity” or “low-activity” occupations.
  • Canadian workers in “low-activity” occupations self-reported more recreational and active travel-related physical activity and leisure reading, while those in “high-activity” occupations reported more work and domestic physical activity and leisure screen time.
  • Findings support workplace policies to improve physical activity levels among Canadian workers and promote awareness for the potential benefit of occupation-specific messaging around physical activity and sedentary behaviour.

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