The health paradox of occupational and leisure-time physical activity

TLDR

Occupational and leisure-time physical activity are generally thought to confer similar health benefits. The study tested whether occupational and leisure-time physical activity have equivalent effects on health. The authors used a representative Danish employee sample (n = 7,144) who reported occupational and leisure-time activity levels in 2005, and linked these to long‑term sickness absence records from 2005‑2007. Moderate and high leisure-time activity lowered the risk of long‑term sickness absence, whereas moderate and high occupational activity increased that risk, demonstrating opposing dose‑response effects on health.

Abstract

Background Occupational and leisure-time physical activity are considered to provide similar health benefits. The authors tested this hypothesis. Methods A representative sample of Danish employees (n=7144, 52% females) reported levels of occupational and leisure-time physical activity in 2005. Long-term sickness absence (LTSA) spells of ≥3 consecutive weeks were retrieved from a social-transfer payment register from 2005 to 2007. Results 341 men and 620 females experienced a spell of LTSA during the period. Cox analyses adjusted for age, gender, smoking, alcohol, body mass index, chronic disease, social support from immediate superior, emotional demands, social class and occupational or leisure-time physical activity showed a decreased risk for LTSA among workers with moderate (HR 0.85, CI 0.72 to 1.01) and high (HR 0.77, CI 0.62 to 0.95) leisure-time physical activity in reference to those with low leisure-time physical activity. In contrast, an increased risk for LTSA was shown among workers with moderate (HR 1.59, CI 1.35 to 1.88) and high (HR 1.84, CI 1.55 to 2.18) occupational physical activity referencing those with low occupational physical activity. Conclusion The hypothesis was rejected. In a dose-response manner, occupational physical activity increased the risk for LTSA, while leisure-time physical activity decreased the risk for LTSA. The findings indicate opposing effects of occupational and leisure-time physical activity on global health.