title: Ethnic disparities in objectively measured physical activity may be due to occupational activity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We examined whether Mexican American adults report occupations that involve higher levels of objectively assessed physical activity compared with Non-Hispanic White and Black adults, and if the differences were independent of income.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from the 2003-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES; N=2707) were analyzed in 2012-2013. An existing classification scheme was used to classify self-reported occupation as sedentary, low-active, or moderately active. From NHANES accelerometer data, proportion of wear time was stratified by intensity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A dose-response relationship was found such that workers in more active occupations spent more time in light-intensity activity and less time engaged in sedentary activities. The findings did not suggest a compensation effect for moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity. Mexican American adults engaged in more activity than Non-Hispanic Black or White adults for incomes between $10,000 and $64,999.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mexican American adults may have higher total physical activity levels in NHANES because of occupational activity, particularly among lower income households. To the extent that light-intensity activity may provide health benefits, occupational activity may partly explain the Hispanic paradox.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion and Behavior, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA. Electronic address: jlgay@uga.edu.
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Gay
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA.
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Buchner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D017058:Mexican Americans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009790:Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D057185:Sedentary Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Accelerometer; Exercise; Health disparities; Mexican-American