Objectively measured physical activity in Finnish employees: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

ObjectivesTo objectively measure the amount of intensity-specific physical activity by gender and age with respect to body mass index (BMI) during workdays and days off among Finnish employees.DesignA cross-sectional study.SettingPrimary care occupational healthcare units.ParticipantsA sample of 9554 Finnish employees (4221 men and 5333 women; age range 18–65 years; BMI range 18.5–40 kg/m2) who participated in health assessments related to occupational health promotion.Main outcome measurementsThe amount of moderate-to-vigorous (MVPA) and vigorous (VPA) physical activity (≥3 and ≥6 metabolic equivalents, respectively) was assessed by estimating the minute-to-minute oxygen consumption from the recorded beat-to-beat R-R interval data. The estimation method used heart rate, respiration rate and on/off response information from R-R interval data calibrated by age, gender, height, weight and self-reported physical activity class. The proportion of participants fulfilling the aerobic physical activity recommendation of ≥150 min/week was calculated on the basis of ≥10 min bouts, by multiplying the VPA minutes by 2.ResultsBoth MVPA and VPA were higher among men and during days off, and decreased with increasing age and BMI (p<0.001 for all). Similar results were observed when the probability of having a bout of MVPA or VPA lasting continuously for ≥10 min per measurement day was studied. The total amount of VPA was low among overweight (mean ≤2.6 min/day), obese (mean ≤0.6 min/day) and all women in the age group 51–65 years (mean ≤2.5 min/day) during both types of days. The proportion of participants fulfilling the aerobic physical activity recommendation was highest for normal weight men (65%; 95% CI 62% to 67%) and lowest for obese women (10%; 95% CI 8% to 12%).ConclusionsObjectively measured physical activity is higher among men and during days off, and decreases with increasing age and BMI. The amount of VPA is very low among obese, overweight and older women.

Daily physical activity patterns among aging workers: the Finnish Retirement and Aging Study (FIREA)

“…Similar to our results, previous studies with younger populations from Finland,14 the UK16 and Singapore17 have also observed activity peaks during times most likely corresponding to commuting to and from work during working days. These activity peaks indicate that commuting contributes to total physical activity.…”

Association of Occupational and Leisure-Time Physical Activity with Aerobic Capacity in a Working Population

“…This applies to mean total VO 2max as well as mean VO 2max in men and women. Physical activity data measured by the SenseWear Mini Armband were comparable to a recent study that objectively measured physical activity in 9554 Finnish employees with the Firstbeat Bodyguard device (dedicated device for beat-by-beat 24 h heart rate and heart rate variability measurement) [39]. In both studies, most physical activity was performed within the moderate-intensity range, and activity levels at all intensities were higher in males compared to females.…”

Habitual Physical Activity in Adults Measured by Accelerometer in Compliance with Selected Health Recommendations

“…In our research, we used the three-axial accelerometer ActiGraph GT3X+ in order to raise the quality of results of PA monitoring. Objective tools of PA assessment, which validity and reliability are high (Lipert, Jegier, 2009;Rothney, Brychta, Meade, Chen, Buchowski, 2010;Butte, Ekelund, Westerterp, 2012;Thomas, Silverman, Nelson, 2015), are commonly used by foreign researchers (Colley et al, 2011, Ruiz et al, 2011, Evenson, Buchner, Morland, 2012Sheers, Philippaerts, Lefevre, 2013;Mutikainen, Helander, Pietilä, Korhonen, Kujala, 2014). In Poland, research on PA characteristics based on impartial measurement tools is still scarce (Mynarski, Nawrocka, Rozpara, Garbaciak, 2012;Włodarek, Majkowski, Majkowska, 2012).…”