The effect of leisure time physical activity and sedentary behaviour on the health of workers with different occupational physical activity demands: a systematic review

Oral Presentation C2.4

Authors

  • Stephanie A. Prince Ware Public Health Agency of Canada; University of Ottawa
  • Charlotte L. Rasmussen National Research Centre for the Working Environment
  • Aviroop Biswas Institute for Work & Health; University of Toronto
  • Andreas Holtermann National Research Centre for the Working Environment
  • Tarnbir Aulakh Queen's University
  • Katherine Merucci Health Library, Health Canada
  • Pieter Coenen Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam; Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14288/hfjc.v14i3.656

Keywords:

Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour, Occupation, Leisure, Cardiovascular Disease, Mortality

Abstract

Background: Although it is generally accepted that physical activity (PA) reduces the risk for chronic disease and mortality, accumulating evidence suggests that occupational PA (OPA) may not confer the same health benefits as leisure time PA (LTPA). It is also unclear if workers in high OPA jobs benefit from LTPA the same way as those in sedentary jobs. Purpose: To determine whether LTPA and leisure time sedentary behaviour (LTSB) confer the same health effects across occupations with different levels of OPA. Methods: Five bibliographic databases were searched from inception to June 2020. Prospective or experimental studies which examined the effects of LTPA or LTSB on all-cause and cardiovascular mortality and cardiovascular disease, musculoskeletal pain, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, arrhythmias and depression among adult workers grouped by OPA (low OPA/sitters, standers, moderate OPA/intermittent movers, high OPA/heavy labourers). Results: The review includes 38 papers. Across all outcomes, except cardiovascular mortality, metabolic syndrome and atrial fibrillation, greater LTPA was consistently protective among low OPA, but conferred less protection among moderate and high OPA. For cardiovascular mortality and metabolic syndrome, higher levels of LTPA were generally associated with similar risk reductions among all OPA groups. Few studies examined effects in standers and none examined effects of LTSB across OPA groups. Conclusions: Evidence suggests that LTPA is beneficial for all workers, but with larger risk reductions among those with low compared to high OPA jobs. Tailored interventions for different occupational groups may be required. More high-quality studies are needed to establish recommended levels of LTPA/LTSB for different OPA groups. Funding: None.

Published

2021-09-30

How to Cite

Prince Ware, S., Rasmussen, C., Biswas, A., Holtermann, A., Aulakh, T., Merucci, K., & Coenen, P. (2021). The effect of leisure time physical activity and sedentary behaviour on the health of workers with different occupational physical activity demands: a systematic review: Oral Presentation C2.4. The Health & Fitness Journal of Canada, 14(3). https://doi.org/10.14288/hfjc.v14i3.656

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