Is access to workplace amenities associated with leisure-time physical activity among Canadian adults?

OBJECTIVE: The workplace represents an important setting for increasing physical activity levels. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between the workplace environment and leisure-time physical activity, using a nationally representative sample of the Canadian population. METHODS: This study used cross-sectional, self-reported data from 48,916 participants who completed relevant questions on the 2008 Canadian Community Health Survey. Associations between supportive workplace environments for physical activity (e.g., perceived range of amenities available such as a pleasant place to walk, fitness facility, showers, and health program) and leisure-time physical activity level (active, moderately active, inactive) were examined using multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS: Approximately three quarters (n=36,216) of participants had access to at least one amenity that supported physical activity while at work. Females in the lowest age category (18-35 years) who perceived a more supportive workplace environment for physical activity had higher odds of being moderately active (AOR 1.06, 95% CI 1.04-1.08) and active (AOR 1.15, 95% CI 1.13-1.17) as compared to inactive in their leisure time. The strength of this association was slightly higher with age and for males. CONCLUSIONS: Since the majority of Canadian adults do not meet recommended levels of physical activity, the workplace offers a promising and modifiable target for increasing opportunities to be physically active. Employers who can provide a more supportive workplace environment for physical activity would benefit, as it can increase employees' physical activity levels and ultimately improve their productivity and overall health. These benefits may be increased for males and with employees' age. KEY WORDS: Exercise; workplace; environment; public health OBJECTIF : Le lieu de travail est l'un des principaux endroits ou accroitre les niveaux d'activite physique. Nous avons voulu etudier le lien entre l'environnement de travail et l'activite physique pendant les loisirs a l'aide d'un echantillon national representatif de la population canadienne. METHODE : Notre etude fait appel aux donnees transversales autodeclarees de 48 916 personnes ayant repondu aux questions pertinentes de l'Enquete sur la sante dans les collectivites canadiennes de 2008. Nous avons examine par regression logistique multinomiale les associations entre les environnements de travail propices a l'activite physique (le choix percu de commodites disponibles, comme un endroit agreable ou marcher, des installations de conditionnement physique, des douches et un programme de sante) et les niveaux d'activite physique pendant les loisirs (activite, activite moderee, inactivite). RESULTATS : Environ les trois quarts (n=36 216) des repondants avaient acces a au moins une commodite favorisant l'activite physique au travail. Les femmes de la categorie d'age inferieure (18-35 ans) qui jugeaient avoir un environnement de travail plus propice a l'activite physique presentaient une plus forte probabilite d'etre moderement actives (RCa 1,06, IC de 95 % 1,04-1,08) ou actives (RCa 1,15, IC de 95 % 1,13-1,17) plutot qu'inactives dans leurs temps libres. La force de cette association augmentait legerement avec l'age, et elle etait legerement plus elevee chez les hommes. CONCLUSION : Etant donne que la majorite des adultes canadiens sont en-deca des niveaux d'activite physique recommandes, le lieu de travail offre une cible prometteuse et modifiable pour accroitre les occasions d'etre actif. Les employeurs qui peuvent fournir un environnement de travail plus propice a l'activite physique en profiteraient, car cela ferait augmenter les niveaux d'activite physique des employes et, en bout de ligne, ameliorerait leur productivite et leur sante globale. Ces avantages pourraient etre accrus pour les hommes et augmenter avec l'age des employes. MOTS CLES : exercice physique; lieu de travail; environnement; sante publique
Only 15% of Canadian adults meet the recommended level of 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (PA) per week to achieve health benefits, as measured by accelerometry. (1,2) PA declines [...]