Accessibility issues or difficulties with this website?
Call 919-962-2073 or email hchsadministration@unc.edu.

Occupational Physical Activity and Body Mass Index: Results from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos.

TitleOccupational Physical Activity and Body Mass Index: Results from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos.
Publication TypePublication
Year2016
AuthorsSinger RH, Stoutenberg M, Gellman MD, Archer E, Davis SM, Gotman N, Marquez DX, Buelna C, Deng Y, H Hosgood D, Zambrana RE
JournalPLoS One
Volume11
Issue3
Paginatione0152339
Date Published2016
ISSN1932-6203
KeywordsAdolescent, Adult, Aged, 80 and over, Analysis of Variance, Body mass index, Energy Metabolism, Female, Health Surveys, Hispanic or Latino, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Motor Activity, Obesity, overweight, Prospective Studies, Risk Factors, Self Report, Work, Young Adult
Abstract

PURPOSE: To examine the associations between overweight/obesity and occupation among Hispanics/Latinos, the largest minority population in the U.S.METHODS: This study included 7,409 employed individuals in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL), a prospective study of Hispanic/Latino individuals aged 18-74 in four communities in the U.S. We independently examined the relationships between BMI, Occupational Activity (OA), and Total Hours Worked, quantified via self-reported hours worked per week and occupation-assigned Metabolic Equivalents (METs).RESULTS: More than three quarters of the participants were either overweight (39.3%) or obese (37.8%). Individuals with a primary occupation and those employed in a secondary occupation worked an average of 36.8 and 14.6 hrs/wk, respectively. The overall adjusted odds for being obese compared to normal weight were 3.2% (AOR = 1.03, 95% CI 1.01, 1.05) and 14.4% (AOR = 1.14 95% Cl 1.07, 1.23) greater for each 10 MET•hrs/wk unit of increased OA, and each 10-hrs/wk unit of Total Hours Worked, respectively.CONCLUSION: This study presents the first findings on the association between OA with overweight/obesity among Hispanic/Latino individuals in the U.S. Increasing OA and Total Hours Worked per week were independently associated with increasing odds of overweight/obesity suggesting that the workplace is only one part of the overall energy expenditure dynamic. Our findings point to the need to emphasize engaging employed individuals in greater levels of PA outside of the work environment to impact overweight/obesity.

DOI10.1371/journal.pone.0152339
Alternate JournalPLoS One
PubMed ID27031996
PubMed Central IDPMC4816339
Grant ListKL2 TR000461 / TR / NCATS NIH HHS / United States
MS#: 
0146
Manuscript Lead/Corresponding Author Affiliation: 
Field Center: Miami (University of Miami)
ECI: 
Yes
Manuscript Status: 
Published