Affiliations: [a] Texas A&M University, Complexity & Computational Population Health Group, University of Houston-Downtown, Department of Social Sciences, Houston, TX, USA
| [b] New York University, Center for Neuroscience, New York, NY, USA
| [c] Texas A&M University, Department of Health & Kinesiology, College Station, TX, USA
| [d] Appalachian State University, Department of Health & Exercise Science, Boone, NC, USA
| [e] University of Central Florida, College of BusinessOrlando, FL, USA
| [f] University of North Carolina Greensboro, Department of Kinesiology, Greensboro, NC, USA
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: Michael K. Lemke PhD, Assistant Professor, Texas A&M University, Complexity & Computational Population Health Group, University of Houston-Downtown, Department of Social Sciences, One Main Street, Ste. N1025, Houston, TX 77002, USA. Tel.: +1 713 221 5733; Fax: +1 713 223 7465; E-mail: LemkeM@uhd.edu.
Abstract: BACKGROUND:Long-haul truck drivers are disproportionately exposed to metabolic risk; however, little is known about their metabolic health and the role of physical activity and other risk factors in metabolic outcomes. OBJECTIVE:This study compares truck drivers’ insulin sensitivity, and associations between metabolic risk factors and insulin sensitivity, with those of the general population. METHODS:Survey, anthropometric, and biometric data were collected from 115 long-haul truckers, which were then compared to the general population data using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) dataset. The quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) was used to estimate insulin sensitivity. RESULTS:Truck drivers had lower QUICKI scores than the general population cohort. Sagittal abdominal diameter and exercise were predictive for QUICKI among combined cohorts. Waist circumference and perceived health were more predictive for QUICKI among truck drivers, and sagittal abdominal diameter and income were more predictive for QUICKI among the general population. CONCLUSIONS:Long-haul truckers appear to represent a subset of the general population regarding the impact of physical activity and other metabolic risk factors on QUICKI. Accordingly, comprehensive efforts which target these factors are needed to improve truckers’ physical activity levels and other metabolic risks.
