Comparison of accelerometer-measured sedentary behavior, and light- and moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity in white- and blue-collar workers in a Japanese manufacturing plant

• Published in: Journal of Occupational Health Vol. 60; no. 3; pp. 246 - 253
• Main Authors: Fukushima, Noritoshi, Kitabayashi, Makiko, Kikuchi, Hiroyuki, Sasai, Hiroyuki, Oka, Koichiro, Nakata, Yoshio, Tanaka, Shigeho, Inoue, Shigeru
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Australia JAPAN SOCIETY FOR OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH 01-05-2018; John Wiley & Sons, Inc; Japan Society for Occupational Health
• Subjects: Accelerometer; Accelerometers; Accelerometry - statistics & numerical data; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Covariance; Exercise; Exercise - physiology; Female; Humans; Luminous intensity; Male; Manufacturing and Industrial Facilities; Manufacturing Industry; Middle Aged; Occupational exposure; Occupational health; Occupations; Original; Physical activity; Population studies; Sedentary Behavior; Time Factors; White collar workers; Workers; Working hours; Young Adult; Accelerometer; Sedentary behavior; Physical activity; Occupational exposure
• ISSN: 1341-9145; 1348-9585; 1348-9585
• DOI: 10.1539/joh.2017-0276-oa

Abstract: Objective: The times spent in sedentary behavior (SB) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) are independently associated with health out-comes; however, objective data on physical activity levels including SB among different occupations is limited. We compared accelerometer-measured times spent in SB, light-intensity physical activity (LPA), and MVPA, and the patterns associated with prolonged bouts of SB between white- and blue-collar workers. Methods: The study population consisted of 102 full-time plant workers (54 white-collar and 48 blue-collar) who wore a triaxial accelerometer during waking hours for 5 working days. Accelerometer-measured activity levels were categorized as SB (<-1.5 metabolic equivalents (METs)), LPA (1.6-2.9 METs), and MVPA (>-3.0 METs). A sedentary bout was defined as consecutive minutes during which the accelerometer registered less than <-1.5 METs. Accelerometer variables were compared between white- and blue-collar workers through analysis of covariance. Results: During working hours, white-collar workers spent significantly more time in SB and less time in LPA than blue-collar workers (SB: 6.4 h vs. 4.8 h, 73% vs. 55% of total work time; LPA: 1.9 h vs. 3.5 h, 22% vs. 40% of total work time, p<.001), whereas the MVPA time was similar between the groups. White-collar workers spent significantly more SB time in prolonged sedentary bouts (>-30 min) compared to blue-collar workers. During leisure time, the SB, LPA, and MVPA times were similar between the groups. Conclusions: White-collar workers have significantly longer SB times than blue-collar workers during work hours, and do not compensate for their excess SB during work by reducing SB during leisure time.