The Role of Physical Activity-Related Health Competence and Leisure-Time Physical Activity for Physical Health and Metabolic Syndrome: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach for German Office Workers.

Simon Blaschke,Jan Ellinger,Johannes Carl,Ulrich Birner,Filip Mess

doi:10.3390/ijerph181910153

Abstract

Office workers (OWs) are prone to insufficient physical activity (PA), which increases their risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and impaired physical health. The Physical Activity-related Health Competence (PAHCO) model holds the potential to facilitate a healthy physically active lifestyle. Therefore, in this study, we investigate the interplay between PAHCO, leisure-time PA, physical health, and MetS in OWs in Germany. In a cross-sectional study, OWs (N = 316, 25% female) completed self-report questionnaires along with an occupational health checkup to examine their Metabolic Syndrome Severity Score (MetSSS) values. Structural equation modeling indicated a strong positive association between PAHCO and leisure-time PA and a small positive association with physical health. PAHCO showed a considerable negative association with the MetSSS. Leisure-time PA was a positive mediator for the PAHCO–physical health association but was not a significant mediator for the association between PAHCO and the MetSSS. These findings underscore the importance of PAHCO in the context of leisure-time PA, physical health, and MetS in OWs. Furthermore, our findings highlight the health-enhancing value of the qualitative aspects of PA, such as motivational and volitional components in PA participation, with respect to physical health and MetS.

Highlights

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer cause ~70% of deaths worldwide and ~90% of deaths in Germany [1,2]
For the three Physical Activityrelated Health Competence (PAHCO) subscales, physical activity (PA)-specific self-regulation showed the strongest relationships with leisure-time PA (r = 0.45, p < 0.001), the physical component score (r = 0.26, p < 0.001), and the Metabolic Syndrome Severity Score (MetSSS) (r = −0.22, p = 0.01)
The mediation analysis of leisure-time PA on the relationship between PAHCO and the MetSSS suggested the value of qualitative aspect of leisure-time PA to mitigate Metabolic syndrome (MetS), as opposed to solely focusing on the amount of PA

Summary

Introduction

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer cause ~70% of deaths worldwide and ~90% of deaths in Germany [1,2]. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is an important indicator [3] for identifying people at risk of NCDs in alignment with the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) strategy for prevention. MetS concerns the co-occurrence of several cardiovascular risk factors (e.g., insulin resistance, abdominal obesity, and hypertension), demonstrating good predictive quality for NCD incidence [4,5]. PA’s positive effects on health are highlighted by the term “health-enhancing physical activity” (HEPA), which encompasses all forms of PA that benefit health without causing undue harm or risk [9]. Despite the health benefits that can be achieved via PA [10], about onequarter of adults worldwide do not meet the WHO recommendations to exert or perform

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Conclusion