Effects of Substituting Types of Physical Activity on Body Fat Mass and Work Efficiency among Workers

Abstract

Low levels of physical activity (PA) not only increase healt h risks but also affect employee productivity. Although daily activity is interdependent with work productivity and personal health, few studies have examined how substituting physical activities would affect health and work efficiency. The present study aimed to investigate how substituting sedentary behaviors (SB) with increased PA and increasing the intensity of low-level activities during waking times affects the body fat mass and work efficiency of employees. Data were collected from 224 Japanese employees. SB, light physical activity (LPA), moderate physical activity (MPA), and vigorous physical activity (VPA) were measured using a tri-axial accelerometer, and body fat mass and work efficiency were also assessed. Analyses of the effects of substituting behaviors were based on the methods used in the isotemporal substitution model. Body fat mass decreased after substituting behaviors for 30 min per day: from SB to VPA (β = −4.800, 95% CI = −7.500; −2.100), from LPA to VPA (β = −4.680, 95% CI = −7.350; −1.980), and from MPA to VPA (β = −4.920, 95% CI = −7.680; −2.190). For work efficiency and physical activities, a higher work efficiency score was observed when substituting SB with LPA (β = 0.120, 95% CI = 0.030; 0.240), and a lower work efficiency score was observed when substituting LPA with VPA (β = −0.660, 95% CI = −1.350; −0.030). These results should help achieve greater results in promoting health and increasing work productivity by properly distributing and practicing daily physical activities during work hours.

Effects of a Workplace Sit–Stand Desk Intervention on Health and Productivity

“…Oversitting is related to poor work productivity, poor work engagement, and decreased presenteeism and can have an overall negative impact on working conditions [ 30 , 31 ]. In this study, work-related indicators were examined in relation to sit–stand desk implementation.…”

Isotemporal substitution of accelerometer-derived sedentary behavior and physical activity on physical fitness in young children

“…Thus, a statistical method that can estimate the association of substitute time spent on an activity while holding the total time of the day constant is an isotemporal substitution modeling (ISM) analysis 18 . Previous research using ISMs has shown that they can improve our understanding of the relationships between different physical activities and their associations with health-related factors 19 – 22 , and help shape public health guidelines and promotion strategies 23 . Research on children under 6 years of age shows that physical activity is associated with health benefits such as reduced obesity, improved bone and cardiovascular health, and improved cognition 24 .…”

Lifestyle and Quality of Life of Women with Diagnosed Hypothyroidism in the Context of Metabolic Disorders

“…Other behaviors that affect thyroid function and metabolism include physical activity, sleep, and smoking [23][24][25][26][27]. Regular physical activity supports a reduction in body fat and the formation of muscle tissue, which is metabolically beneficial [28,29]. Sleep improves cell regeneration, and quitting smoking reduces oxidative stress and may improve mental well-being [25,26,30].…”