Leisure activity and occupational sitting: Associations with daily steps and body mass index in mid-aged women

Abstract

Introduction: This cross-sectional study assessed the association of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and occupational sitting, with both daily step counts and body mass index (BMI) in mid-age women. Methods: 158 women aged 54–59 years were measured for height and weight, wore a pedometer for 7 days, and reported minutes of LTPA (walking, moderate activity and vigorous activity), and degree of occupational sitting. Sufficient LTPA was defined as 600 MET mins/week. Four groups were formed: (1) hi LTPA–low sit: sufficient LTPA and little/no occupational sitting (n = 52), (2) hi LTPA–hi sit: sufficient LTPA and mostly/all occupational sitting (n = 29), (3) low LTPA–low sit: insufficient LTPA and little/no occupational sitting (n = 43), and (4) low LTPA–hi sit: insufficient LTPA and mostly/all occupational sitting (n = 34). ANOVA was used to examine group differences in mean steps/day and BMI. Results: Mean (S.D.) steps/day for each group was hi LTPA–low sit: 9997 (2854); hi LTPA–hi sit: 9424 (3120); low LTPA–low sit: 8995 (2965); low LTPA–hi sit: 7276 (2816); (F = 6.139, p < .001). Mean (S.D.) for BMI was hi LTPA–low sit: 25.5 (3.9); hi LTPA–hi sit: 26.9 (4.1); low LTPA–low sit: 26.5 (4.7); low LTPA–hi sit: 29.7 (7.9); (F = 4.57, p < .005). Mean steps/day were significantly lower and BMI was significantly higher in the low LTPA–hi sit group than in the other three groups. No other differences were significant. Conclusions: These results suggest that it might be important to target both leisure-time activity and occupational sitting to increase daily steps and promote healthy BMI in mid-aged women.