Relationship between the Working-day and Day-off Physical Activity of Adults in Hong Kong

Abstract

This study aims to assess the relationship of the levels of physical activities among working adults over a period of seven consecutive days, between working days and days off. This cross-sectional study used a sealed pedometer to measure the physical activity of working adults in terms of their number of daily walking steps on working days and days off. A voluntary sample of 745 working adults aged 18-64, who were recruited from different occupational categories in Hong Kong, had completed the study. The participants were fairly active when compared against the recommended levels of physical activity. The average daily walking steps reached 8,400 over a period of seven consecutive days. A significant difference was found between the number of walking steps on working days and that on days off. Two groups of working adults who walked less at work were plant and machine operators and assemblers, and clerks. A significant positive correlation was also found between physical activities on working days and those on days off. One's walking steps on working days were found to significantly increase one's walking steps on days off when the effect of age and gender were controlled in the analysis of multiple regressions. Physical activities on a working day are likely to determine those on a day off. Sedentary work habits may induce sedentary activities on days off. The results inform us that health promotion campaigns, for allowing exceptional levels of activities at workplaces should be undertaken to encourage working adults in Hong Kong.