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Occupational Medicine 1998;48:37-44
© 1998 Society of Occupational Medicine

research-article

Assess workers' needs and preferences first before planning a physical fitness programme: findings from a polytechnic institute in Singapore

M. L. Wong*, D. Koh* and M. H. Lee{dagger}

* Department of Community, Occupational and Family Medicine, National University of Singapore, National University Hospital Singapore
{dagger} Singapore Polytechnic Singapore

Workplace physical fitness programmes are usually poorly attended because the activities do not meet workers' needs. We investigated leisure-time physical activity and its relation to sociodemographic characteristics and cardiovascular risk factors in a polytechnic institute in Singapore before planning a physical fitness programme. Low leisure-time physical activity (defined as no activity or engaging in physical activity less than once per week) was more prevalent among older women, married workers, smokers and men with unhealthy dietary habits. The type of physical activity varied with age and gender, with a preference for walking by women and older men and jogging by younger men. Low physical activity was significantly associated with sickness absence and self-reported stress in women and higher values of triglycerides and low density lipoprotein cholesterol in men. This survey helps to identify target groups for physical fitness programmes and determine leisure-time physical activities specific to workers' preferences by age and gender.

Keywords      Age; cholesterol; gender; leisure-time physical activity; sickness absence; stress; triglycerides

Received       16 June 1997
Accepted        4 August 1997

Correspondence and reprint requests to: Dr W. M. Lian, Department of Community, Occupational and Family Medicine, National University of Singapore, National University Hospital, Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119074. Tel: 774932117749300; email: cofwml{at}nus.sg


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