Physical activity and prolonged sedentary behavior in US working adults

Using nationally representative data (N = 6,431) from the 2007–2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, we estimated the prevalence of self-reported adherence to guidelines-recommended physical activity level and prolonged sedentary behavior among US working adults 20 years of age and above by occupation. Sex and age were used for adjustment by direct standardization to the year 2000 Census population. Participants in “computer, mathematical” (47.77%) and “business, financial operations” (54.95%) occupations had the lowest prevalence of self-reported adherence to guidelines-recommended physical activity level; participants in “computer, mathematical” (72.19%) and “legal” (62.70%) occupations had the highest prevalence of prolonged sedentary behavior in all occupations. Public physical activity campaigns and workplace wellness programs should take into account the differences in physical activity and sedentary behavior patterns across occupation groups.