The effect of calorie restriction on the anthropometric parameters, HOMA-IR index, and lipid profile of female office workers with overweight and obesity: a preliminary study.

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluates the effect of a 3-month calorie restriction (CR) without snacking on the anthropometric parameters, Homeostatic Model Assesment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), and lipid profiles of female office workers with overweight or obesity, whose physical activity was limited during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-eight women aged 20-38 years (28.9±5.24) with low physical activity levels were divided into a non-snacking (NS) group (N = 21) and a snacking (S) group (N = 27) prior to the dietary intervention. Their daily energy intake during the intervention was lowered by 30% compared with the baseline level, and the proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids and fiber in their diet was increased (to >30 g/day). The proportion of saturated fatty acids and simple carbohydrates was also reduced. The study participants were assessed at the baseline and post-intervention for anthropometric variables (body weight, body fat percentage BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio) and the concentrations of insulin, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Moreover, the values for HOMA-IR, the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), and the ratios of TC/HDL-C, TG/HDL-C, and LDL-C/HDL-C were calculated. RESULTS: All anthropometric parameter values obtained post-intervention were lower than the baseline in both groups. The serum insulin concentration and HOMA-IR decreased respectively by an average of 6% and 25% in the NS group and 37% and 45% in the S group. The lipid profiles of all participants improved significantly, with the LDL-C concentration showing a more promising trend in the S group (decrease by 27%) than in the NS group (17%). CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that CR improved the anthropometric parameters, HOMA-IR index, and lipid profiles of all participants.

Occupational and leisure time physical activity of territorial army soldiers during the COVID-19 pandemic in the context of their perceived work ability.

OBJECTIVES: Physical activity (PA) is important for the prevention and management of numerous diseases and may have a positive effect on ability to work. The study aimed to assess the level of occupational and leisure time PA of soldiers during the COVID-19 pandemic and to explore whether there was a relationship between PA and perceived work ability. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study involved 305 men and 68 women who were territorial army soldiers aged 18-55 (M±SD 32.9±9.01). The Seven-Day Physical Activity Recall (SDPAR) and the Work Ability Index (WAI) were used. RESULTS: The level of self-reported PA for the studied soldiers was relatively high; 80% of them met the recommendations of the WHO and were characterized by having a good (60%) or excellent (20%) WAI status. The level of occupational PA of male soldiers was higher than the level of leisure time PA, and they indicated higher levels of occupational PA and leisure time PA during the workweek than the weekend. CONCLUSIONS: Current work ability in comparison to the best in life and work ability related to the physical requirements of the work were positively correlated with leisure time PA. Work ability related to physical requirements was also positively correlated with occupational and total PA, and work ability related to mental requirements was positively correlated with total PA. The study supports the relationship between PA and several aspects of work ability. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2022;35(3):327-37.

Musculoskeletal disorders and the physical activity of territorial army soldiers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the occurrence of self-reported musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) among Polish territorial army soldiers during the COVID-19 pandemic and to investigate whether there was a relationship between occupational physical activity (OPA), leisure time physical activity (LTPA), and MSD. METHODS: The study used a cross-sectional design with a sample of 373 territorial army soldiers ages 18-55 who had not previously suffered from COVID-19 and were not convalescents. The symptoms prevalence data was collected using the standardized Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. OPA and LTPA data was collected using the Seven-Day Physical Activity Recall (SDPAR). RESULTS: The OPA, LTPA, and total physical activity (PA) among the studied soldiers was very diverse and the mean level of PA was relatively high. A total of 56 and 40% of territorial army soldiers had experienced pain or other discomfort in one or more of nine body regions during the past 12 months and during the past 7 days, respectively. The most common MSD among Polish territorial army soldiers were low back pain, followed by pain in the neck and knees. CONCLUSIONS: The study revealed that the OPA of the studied soldiers, especially vigorous-intensity and high vigorous-intensity OPA, was associated with a higher prevalence of MSD in several regions of the body, i.e. the lower back, elbows, wrists or hands, hips or thighs, and ankles or feet. Along with the increase in energy expenditure on total PA, a greater percentage of respondents experienced low back pain. Vigorous and high vigorous-intensity PA may contribute to the occurrence of MSD.