Association of Physical Activity and Sitting Time with Overweight/Obesity in Chinese Occupational Populations

Abstract

<b><i>Abstract:</i></b> The aim of this study was to explore association of physical activity and sitting time with overweight/obesity in Chinese occupational populations for the development of intervention and prevention strategies for obesity. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> A total of 23,112 participants were selected from the 2010–2012 China National Nutrition and Health Survey (CNNHS). A logistics regression model was used to examine the associations of physical activity and sitting time with overweight/obesity by gender after adjusting for age, educational level, marital status, and family economic level. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The prevalence of overweight/obesity based on the WHO definition and the WGOC definition was 30.8% and 41.3%, respectively. Male employees with moderate and heavy occupation activity intensity had a lower risk for overweight/obesity than those with light occupation activity intensity (moderate: OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.82–0.98; heavy: OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.65–0.86), and the risk of overweight/obesity of male employees with long work-time spent sitting was higher than those with short work-time spent sitting (2–4.9 h/day: OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.14–1.40; ≥5 h/day: OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.15–1.44). The risk of overweight/obesity of male employees with active transportation mode was lower than those with inactive transportation mode (OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.84–0.99), while the risk of overweight/obesity of female employees with active transportation mode was higher (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.04–1.25). Female employees with leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) for ≥150 min/week had lower risk of overweight/obesity than those with LTPA for &#x3c;150 min/week (OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.56–0.84). There was no significant association of leisure-time sitting and housework time with overweight/obesity in Chinese occupational populations. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Occupation activity intensity, LTPA, transportation mode, and work sitting time were associated with overweight/obesity. Reducing work sitting time, moderate and heavy occupation activity intensity, and an active transportation mode could help male employees decrease the risk of overweight/obesity. Increasing leisure-time physical activity could reduce the risk of overweight/obesity in women. Our findings provided insight into the association of physical activity and sitting time with overweight/obesity. It will be necessary to carry out workplace-based interventions, have an active transportation mode, and increase leisure-time physical activity to decrease the risks of overweight/obesity.