Association Between Walking, Sedentary Behavior, and Weight Changes of Female University Employees Who Were Overweight or Obese

Abstract

Abstract Objectives Increased physical activity and decreased sedentary time are associated with reduced risk of cardiometabolic disease. The aim of this study was to examine the associations between changes in weight, and walking and sitting time of female employees with overweight or obesity enrolled in a university-based worksite wellness program (WWP). Methods This was a secondary analysis of existing data from the WWP. Descriptive statistics, paired sample t-tests, and the Mann-Whitney U test were used to analyze data from 163 female participants. When comparing participants who lost weight and gained weight, the associations between the changes in walking and sitting times from baseline to 26 weeks post-intervention were analyzed. Results Participants’ mean age was 49.16 ± 10.84 years; 46.60% (n = 76) were white, non-Hispanic (n = 76). Of the 64.40% (n = 105) who lost weight, mean weight loss = 4.11 ± 8.44 pounds after 26 weeks. Those who lost weight increased total walking time by 37.79 minutes/week while the weight gain group (n = 54) decreased total walking time by 52.03 minutes/week (P = 0.01). Those who lost weight decreased sitting time by twice as much (–54.4 vs −23.0 minutes/day, P = 0.11) and increased total moderate-vigorous physical activity time by more than 8 times compared to participants who gained weight (+35.0 vs −4.4 minutes/week, P = 0.07). Conclusions In this sample of female university employees who completed 26 weeks of a WWP, those who lost weight had greater increases in walking time and moderate-vigorous physical activity time and decreases in sitting time compared to those who gained weight. The clinical relevance of the results support the need for prospective research with a larger sample size and objective measures of physical activity is needed to explore the clinical effect of reducing sitting time and engaging in higher intensity physical activity on weight change. Funding Sources Rutgers School of Health Professions Department of Clinical and Preventive Nutrition Sciences.