Do overweight/obesity and low levels of leisure-time vigorous physical activity moderate the effect of occupational physical activity on self-rated health of construction workers?

M Van Den Berge,H F Van Der Molen,S H Van Oostrom,A J Van Der Beek,S J W Robroek,C T J Hulshof,K I Proper

doi:10.1007/s00420-021-01771-2

Abstract

PurposeTo investigate the combined effects of occupational physical activity (OPA) and either overweight/obesity or low levels of leisure-time vigorous physical activity (LTVPA) on self-rated health.MethodsA longitudinal study was performed among 29,987 construction workers with complete data on 2 Workers’ Health Surveillance Programs during 2010–2018. Self-reported OPA involved strenuous work postures and manual material handling. Low level of LTVPA was defined as self-reported vigorous activity for less than three times per week lasting at least 20 min per session. Overweight and obesity were based on Body Mass Index (BMI) (25.0 ≤ BMI < 30.0 kg/m2 and BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/m2, respectively) using measured body height and weight. Self-rated health was measured using a single item question. Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the associations between the separate risk factors at baseline and self-rated health at follow-up. The combined effects of demanding OPA and either overweight/obesity or low level of LTVPA on self-rated health were analyzed using the relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI).ResultsMean follow-up duration was 31.7 (SD = 14.9) months. Construction workers with strenuous work postures (OR 1.35 95% CI 1.25–1.46), manual material handling (OR 1.29 95% CI 1.19–1.40), obesity (OR 1.31 95% CI 1.17–1.47) and low LTVPA (OR 1.13 95% CI 1.01–1.25) were more likely to report poor self-rated health at follow-up. No statistically significant interaction effects were found for OPA and obesity or low LTVPA.ConclusionsOPA, obesity and low level of LTVPA were separate risk factors for poor self-rated health, but did not appear to have a synergistic effect.

Highlights

Workers with a low socioeconomic position (SEP), many of whom are blue-collar workers, have higher mortality rates and a poorer health compared to workers with a highSEP (Dieker et al 2019; Moor et al 2017)
To gain more insight into the role of leisure-time vigorous physical activity (LTVPA) and overweight/obesity in the relation between high occupational physical activities (OPA) and self-perceived health, this study aimed to investigate the combined effects of a high OPA and either overweight/obesity or low level of LTVPA on self-rated health
The dataset used in this longitudinal study consisted of Dutch construction workers who participated in two Workers’ Health Surveillance Programs (WHS) conducted by Occupational Health Services (OHS) throughout the Netherlands in the period between 2010 and 2018

Summary

Introduction

Workers with a low socioeconomic position (SEP), many of whom are blue-collar workers, have higher mortality rates and a poorer health compared to workers with a highSEP (Dieker et al 2019; Moor et al 2017). Several workrelated determinants and individual lifestyle behaviors play a role in the relatively poor health of low SEP workers. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health levels of OPA have been shown to impair health (Coenen et al 2018; Gupta et al 2020; Holtermann et al 2012). These opposite health effects of physical activity in the different domains of leisure time versus those of physical activity at work is termed as the physical activity paradox (Holtermann et al 2012)

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