Association of Physical Activity and Sitting Time with Overweight/Obesity in Chinese Occupational Populations

AbstractThe aim of this study was to explore association of physical activity and sitting time with overweight/obesity in Chinese occupational populations for the development of intervention and prevention strategies for obesity.MethodsA total of 23,112 participants were selected from the 2010–2012 China National Nutrition and Health Survey (CNNHS). A logistics regression model was used to examine the associations of physical activity and sitting time with overweight/obesity by gender after adjusting for age, educational level, marital status, and family economic level.ResultsThe prevalence of overweight/obesity based on the WHO definition and the WGOC definition was 30.8% and 41.3%, respectively. Male employees with moderate and heavy occupation activity intensity had a lower risk for overweight/obesity than those with light occupation activity intensity (moderate: OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.82–0.98; heavy: OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.65–0.86), and the risk of overweight/obesity of male employees with long work-time spent sitting was higher than those with short work-time spent sitting (2–4.9 h/day: OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.14–1.40; ≥5 h/day: OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.15–1.44). The risk of overweight/obesity of male employees with active transportation mode was lower than those with inactive transportation mode (OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.84–0.99), while the risk of overweight/obesity of female employees with active transportation mode was higher (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.04–1.25). Female employees with leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) for ≥150 min/week had lower risk of overweight/obesity than those with LTPA for <150 min/week (OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.56–0.84). There was no significant association of leisure-time sitting and housework time with overweight/obesity in Chinese occupational populations.ConclusionOccupation activity intensity, LTPA, transportation mode, and work sitting time were associated with overweight/obesity. Reducing work sitting time, moderate and heavy occupation activity intensity, and an active transportation mode could help male employees decrease the risk of overweight/obesity. Increasing leisure-time physical activity could reduce the risk of overweight/obesity in women. Our findings provided insight into the association of physical activity and sitting time with overweight/obesity. It will be necessary to carry out workplace-based interventions, have an active transportation mode, and increase leisure-time physical activity to decrease the risks of overweight/obesity.