Comparative analysis of health-related physical fitness levels among the young male workers performing sedentary and heavy occupational physical activity

Abstract

Study aimed to compare the health-related physical fitness levels (HRPF) among young male workers from physically active and inactive occupation. Ninety four healthy male workers (18-30 years) were selected from 2 distinct occupational group, i.e., office (n = 46) and construction (n = 48). Constructions workers had significantly lower (p < 0.001) BMI, fat%, metabolic age (years), waist and hip circumference; and significantly higher (p < 0.001) body water % and lean body mass % as compared to office workers. Therefore, construction workers had superior back flexibility, trunk lift scores and aerobic capacity. Whereas, office workers showed significantly good performance only in hand strength. No significant difference was found for strength (pinch, explosive leg and back) and endurance (upper and core body) tests. Occupational physical activity (OPA) significantly influences the body composition, flexibility and aerobic capacity. Whereas, lack of OPA can be associated with increase in obesity, larger waist and hip circumference; and poor performance in most of the fitness test. Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Patel, P. and Iqbal, R. (2020) 'Comparative analysis of health-related physical fitness levels among the young male workers performing sedentary and heavy occupational physical activity', Int. Biographical notes: Prachi Patel is presently a Fellow PhD scholar of the NITIE, Mumbai. She completed her Graduation in Interior Designing and Masters in Resource Management with specialisation in Ergonomics from the SNDT Women's University, Mumbai. She is teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate levels for past 5 1/2 years. Furthermore, she has participated in many international and national conferences, training programs and workshops. Rauf Iqbal completed his Masters in Human Physiology with specialisation in Ergonomics and Work Physiology, and accomplished his PhD from the Vidyasagar University, West Bengal, India. His area of expertise is ergonomics and human factors engineering. He has guided research students for Masters and PhD thesis and has many publications under his name. Moreover, he has participated in many international and national conferences, and also organised Comparative analysis of health-related physical fitness levels 63 international conferences, seminars and workshops. Also, he has been carrying out consultancy studies in various industries in the area of ergonomics and work system design and is a member of several committees and associations.