Association of Occupational and Leisure-Time Physical Activity With Allostatic Load

Abstract

IntroductionLeisure-time physical activity (LTPA) decreases allostatic load (AL), a measure of burden of chronic stress. However, the role of occupational PA (OPA) is unknown. This study examined associations of OPA and LTPA with AL among workers in the United States (US). MethodsThis cross-sectional study included 6944 US workers aged 20–64 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007–2018). PA was assessed using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. AL was calculated using biomarkers of cardiovascular health, metabolic function and immune response. Associations of OPA and LTPA were examined with AL using negative binomial regressions. Analyses were conducted between August 2022 and March 2023. ResultsVigorous LTPA inversely associated with AL among all workers (count ratio = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.62–0.76) and in each sex- and age- stratified group (i.e., females aged 20–44 years, females aged 45–64 years, males aged 20–44 years, and males aged 45–64 years), as well as in each race/ethnicity- stratified group (i.e., Whites, Blacks, Hispanics). Vigorous OPA positively associated with AL only among females aged 20–44 years [1.38 (1.10–1.73)]. Inverse associations of vigorous LTPA with AL were similar in young females with high [0.61 (0.50–0.75)] or low [0.66 (0.60–0.74)] vigorous OPA. ConclusionsIncreasing vigorous LTPA is associated with a lower AL for all workers, while increasing vigorous OPA is associated with a higher AL only in young females. Promoting vigorous LTPA reduces AL among young females with either low or high vigorous OPA.