How can workers spend their day to optimize the effects on their health and work productivity?

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K19701
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 59040:Nutrition science and health science-related
• Research Institution: Physical Fitness Research Institute, Meiji Yasuda Life Foundation of Health and Welfare
• Principal Investigator: Kitano Naruki 公益財団法人明治安田厚生事業団体力医学研究所, その他部局等, 研究員(移行) (20762206)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 身体活動 / 座位行動 / 睡眠 / 加速度計

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The aim of this study was to examine the association of the balance of daily movement behaviors (sleep, physical activity, and sedentary behavior) with health and well-being among workers. The results showed that a day with less sedentary behavior and more sleep and physical activity was associated with better physical health (cardiometabolic health) and well-being (e.g. happiness and work engagement). On the other hand, a lower psychological distress was related to a day with less sedentary behavior and light-intensity physical activity and more sleep and moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity. It was also suggested that these associations may differ by domain of behavior (e.g. occasions and days of the week) and characteristics (e.g. gender).

Free Research Field

疫学、公衆衛生学、スポーツ科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

1日の身体行動に費やす時間は互いに依存関係にあるため、健康づくりを推進する際には、いずれか一つの行動に着目するのではなく24時間の身体行動を包括的に捉える視点が必要である。しかし、厚生労働省「健康づくりのための身体活動・運動ガイド2023」では現時点で座位行動や睡眠に関する行動指針が含まれていない。本研究から得られた24時間の身体行動と様々な健康アウトカムの関連性についての知見は、現状の行動指針を発展させ、24時間の身体行動を包括的に捉えたガイドラインの作成に寄与することが期待される。