[What are the associations between occupational physical activity and overweight?].
BACKGROUND
The increasing trend for obesity, together with reduced occupational physical activity in Norway, led us to study the association between work activity and body mass index.


METHODS
We analysed data from population screenings in Norwegian counties 1974-97. Occupational physical activity was measured by a question with four alternative answers.


RESULTS
Among women, sedentary or light physical work was associated with the lowest body mass indices and heavy physical work with the highest. Among men, occupational physical activity was associated with a slightly higher body mass index in general, but not in all counties and not in men who were physically inactive in their leisure time. In the survey in Nord-Trøndelag 1995-97 the body mass index in men was lower in those with physical work than in those with sedentary occupations.


CONCLUSIONS
The inverse association between physical work and overweight does not indicate an important role of physical work in weight control of women. In men, several explanations are possible. One interpretation is that physical work is of importance for weight control in some rural areas and in men with physical activity in their leisure time.
Graff-Iversen
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Statens helseundersøkelser Postboks 8155 Dep 0033 Oslo. sidsel.graff-iversen@shus.no
Skurtveit
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Sørensen
M
M
Nybø
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A
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D009787:Occupational Medicine; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014937:Work