Describing the relationship between occupational and non-occupational physical activity using objective measurement

•Explores occupational physical activity via accelerometry rather than self-report.•Average weekly occupational PA and non-occupational PA are positively associated.•Daily associations between occupational and non-occupational PA are not as strong.•Average weekly associations are stronger in women than in men.

ObjectivePhysical inactivity is a major health risk for working adults, yet the interplay between physical activity levels in work and non-work settings is not well understood. The association between occupational physical activity (OPA) and non-occupational physical activity (non-OPA), and associations by sex, were examined in a group of 233 working adults in the Minneapolis, MN metro area between 2010 and 2012.MethodsAccelerometry-measured activity was split into OPA and non-OPA via participant-reported typical work start and end times. Regression models were used to estimate associations.ResultsAverage weekly OPA was positively associated with non-OPA (B = 0.18, 95% CI: 0.08 to 0.28) and associations were stronger among women than men (Binteraction = − 0.39, 95% CI: − 0.61 to − 0.17).ConclusionsResults suggest that individuals with less physical activity during work also have less physical activity outside of work. Understanding the complexities of the OPA/non-OPA relationship will enable researchers to explore the underlying mechanisms.