Objectively measured sedentary behavior and physical activity in office employees

Brown, H. E., Ryde, G. C. , Gilson, N. D., Burton, N. W. and Brown, W. J. (2013) Objectively measured sedentary behavior and physical activity in office employees. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 55(8), pp. 945-953. (doi: 10.1097/JOM.0b013e31829178bf) (PMID:23887700)

Abstract

Objective: Employee presenteeism is the extent to which health conditions adversely affect at-work productivity. Given the links between health and activity, this study examined associations between objectively measured physical activity, sedentary behavior, and presenteeism. Methods: Participants were 108 office employees (70% women, mean age 40.7 ± 11.2 years). Activity was measured using ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometers to determine sedentary (≤150 counts) and light (151 to 1689 counts) activity; presenteeism with the Work Limitations Questionnaire. Results: Fifty-seven percent of time was spent in sedentary behavior and 38% in light activity. The median Work Limitations Questionnaire Index was 4.38; 6% of participants reported at least moderate impairment. Significant associations were reported for time spent in sedentary behavior before/after work (odds ratio [OR] = 2.58; 95% CI: 1.08 to 6.20) and in light activity, overall (OR = 0.43; 95% CI: 0.19 to 0.97) and during workday lunch hours (OR = 0.34; 95% CI: 0.15 to 0.77), and presenteeism. Conclusions: Future studies should seek greater variation in employee levels of activity and presenteeism to confirm these relationships.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Ryde, Dr Gemma
• Authors: Brown, H. E., Ryde, G. C., Gilson, N. D., Burton, N. W., and Brown, W. J.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health
• Journal Name: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
• Publisher: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
• ISSN: 1076-2752