Affiliations: [a]
Department of Wellness, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA
| [b]
Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| [c]
Department of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA
| [d] Human Performance Laboratory, Department of Health, Exercise, and Sport Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA
Correspondence:
[*]
Address for correspondence: Abbie E. Smith-Ryan, PhD, CSCS*D, FISSN, Department of Health, Exercise, and Sport Sciences, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-8700, USA. Tel: +1 919 962 2574; Fax: +1 919 962 6325; E-mail: abbsmith@email.unc.edu.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Physical demands may vary between white collar and blue collar occupations when evaluating specific physiological differences such as one’s weight, body mass index and body fat percentage. OBJECTIVE: To explore nutritional, anthropometric, and physical-activity differences between young and middle-aged WC and BC workers. METHODS: Ninety-one male participants aged 19–64 that were either WC and/or BC workers completed a 3-day food recall, modified Baecke Questionnaire, and had their height, weight, body mass index and body fat percentage measured. Participants were classified as: young-white-collar, young-blue-collar, middle-white-collar or middle-blue-collar workers. RESULTS: No nutritional differences within ages or between occupations were reported. Body mass index and body fat percentage were lower for young vs. middle-aged workers. Lastly, physical-activity at work was higher for young and middle-aged Blue collar workers, while White collar workers participated in more physical activity outside of work. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings suggest that the observed increases in body fat percentage and body mass index with age, are independent of occupation.
Keywords: Age, blue collar, calories, macronutrients, work index
