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Published on: March 7, 2019
Physical Activity, Sedentary Time, and Cardiometabolic Health in Heavy Goods Vehicle Drivers
Katharina Ruettger1, Veronica Varela-Mato, Yu-Ling Chen
1School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, United Kingdom (Miss Ruettger, Dr Varela-Mato, Dr Chen, Miss Guest, Dr Paine, Dr Sherry, Dr Sayyah, Dr King, Dr Clemes), NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, United Kingdom (Dr Varela-Mato, Dr Edwardson, Dr Paine, Dr Sherry, Dr Yates, Dr King, Dr Clemes), Diabetes Research Centre, University of Leicester, United Kingdom (Dr Edwardson, Dr Yates), School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, University of Queensland, Australia (Dr Gilson), Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom (Dr Gray).
Objective:
Physical inactivity, prolonged sitting, and unhealthy dietary habits are common in Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) drivers. These factors increase risk of long-term health conditions.
Methods:
329 HGV drivers across 25 UK depots completed a health assessment, including questionnaire completion, and objectively measured anthropometrics, blood biomarkers, physical activity (PA), and sedentary behavior.
Results:
The sample demonstrated a high-risk cardiometabolic health profile. 88.1% were overweight or had obesity, and 11.9% had pre-diabetes or diabetes. 28.3% had hypertension, 83.6% had clinically elevated circulating low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol concentrations (>2mmol/l), and 66.6% had high total cholesterol levels (>4mmol/l). On workdays drivers accumulated 12 hours/day of sitting, 1.7 hours/day of light PA, and 9.8 mins/day of moderate-to-vigorous PA. Associations between light PA and cardiometabolic markers were observed.
Conclusion:
This sample presents high levels of inactivity, overweight, and obesity, and unhealthy cardiometabolic health profiles.
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