title: Contribution of occupation to high doses of light-intensity activity and cardiovascular risk factors among Mexican American adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The association between light-intensity activity and cardiovascular disease risk is not well understood. The purpose of this study was to determine the association of light-intensity activity with census-based occupational activity classifications and cardiovascular risk factors among Mexican American adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  118 Mexican American adults (68.6% female) provided cross-sectional accelerometer and biological data. Self-reported occupations were classified by activity level (sedentary, low, moderate). Participants were classified as At-Risk for BMI, glucose, triglycerides, HDL, blood pressure, waist circumference, and percent body fat.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants engaged in > 5 hours of light-intensity activity on average, and those in sedentary occupations engaged in fewer light-intensity activity minutes than low-active or moderately active workers (P < .001). Self-reported occupation explained 14% of the variation in light-intensity activity (P < .001). Participants in moderately active occupations were at increased risk for high %body fat than other workers (P = .01), but no other associations between occupation and cardiovascular risk were detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early work in physical activity underscored the importance of occupational activity. This study presents evidence of a dose-response association for light-intensity activity by occupational category such that workers in sedentary occupations had less light-intensity activity than employees in more active occupations. Future research on how light-intensity activity derived from occupation may reduce the risk of chronic disease will contribute to improved interventions as light-intensity activity participation may be more feasible than meeting current physical activity guidelines.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Health Promotion and Behavior, University of Georgia, Athens, GA.
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Gay
authors.forename: Harold W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Kohl
authors.forename: Jennifer J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Salinas
authors.forename: Joseph B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: McCormick
authors.forename: Susan P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Fisher-Hoch
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017058:Mexican Americans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009790:Occupations; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D055105:Waist Circumference; D014937:Work
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D014280:Triglycerides