title: A physically active occupation does not result in compensatory inactivity during out-of-work hours.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine differences in non-occupational physical activity behaviour in workers who engage in high and low occupational physical activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey of 112 otherwise comparable volunteers in active (56 walking postal delivery workers) or inactive (56 administrative postal workers) occupations in Glasgow (Scotland) in 2007.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty four-hour physical activity (steps and time standing, walking and sedentary) patterns were measured using activPAL™ for seven days. Comparisons were made during 8-hour work-shifts, during non-work hours on work-days and during the 2 non-work days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Age and body mass index of delivery and office staff, respectively, were (means (SD)) 38 (9) years versus 40 (7) years and 26.3 (3) kg m(-2) versus 27.4 (4) kg m(-2). Delivery staff spent substantially longer time than office staff upright (6.0 (1.1) h versus 3.9 (1.5) h) and walking (3.1 (0.7) h versus 1.6 (0.7) h) and amassed more steps (16,035 (4264) versus 6709 (2808)) during 8-hour work-shifts and over 24h on work days. During non-work hours of work-days and during non-work days, there were no significant differences in physical activity between the groups. The results were unchanged when the 15 women were excluded.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Having a more active occupation is not associated with more inactivity during non-work hours.
authors.affiliation: School of Health, Glasgow Caledonian University, Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow, UK. William.Tigbe@gcal.ac.uk
authors.forename: William W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Tigbe
authors.forename: Michael E J
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Lean
authors.forename: Malcolm H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Granat
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009790:Occupations / Q000145:classification; D011998:Recreation; D012606:Scotland; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D016138:Walking / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*