title: Relationship between physical inactivity and health characteristics among participants in an employee-wellness program.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize factors associated with physical inactivity among employees with access to workplace wellness program.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined data on physical inactivity, defined as exercise less than once a week, from the 2010 health risk assessment completed by employees at a major academic institution (N = 16,976).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among employees, 18% of individuals reported physical activity less than once a week. Individuals who were physically inactive as compared with physically active reported higher prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.36 [1.23 to 1.51]), fair or poor health status (AOR, 3.52 [2.97 to 4.17]), and absenteeism from work (AOR, 1.59 [1.41 to 1.79]). Overall, physically inactive employees as compared with physically active employees reported more interest in health education programs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Future research is needed to address barriers to physical inactivity to improve employee wellness and potentially lower health utility costs.
authors.affiliation: Division of General Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA. gurjeet.birdee@vanderbilt.edu
authors.forename: Gurjeet S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Birdee
authors.forename: Daniel W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Byrne
authors.forename: Paula W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: McGown
authors.forename: Russell L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Rothman
authors.forename: Lori A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Rolando
authors.forename: Marilyn C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Holmes
authors.forename: Mary I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Yarbrough
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D003256:Community Participation; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D016272:Occupational Health; D057185:Sedentary Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult