Sedentary time across the transition to retirement and after an activity tracker intervention

This study aimed to examine how accelerometer-measured daily total and prolonged sedentary time change across the transition to retirement using annual measurement data from the Finnish Retirement and Aging (FIREA) study (n=689). Another aim was to examine the effect of a 12-month activity tracker-based intervention on sedentary time among recent retirees using data from the REACT trial (n=231). The final aim was to compare sedentary time estimates of the wrist-worn accelerometers used in both studies to the estimates obtained by a more reliable method, a thighworn accelerometer. Daily total sedentary time only changed among women retiring from manual occupations. Their daily total sedentary time increased by 54 minutes immediately after the transition to retirement. Prolonged sedentary time increased by half an hour across gender and occupational groups. The timing of the changes in relation to retirement differed between genders, as women’s prolonged sedentary time increased immediately after the transition to retirement, whereas the increase in men’s prolonged sedentary time was more gradual from the last years at work to a few years after retirement. The activity tracker-based intervention targeted at the first years after retirement did not elicit changes in daily total or prolonged sedentary time over 12 months in comparison to the controls. The wrist-worn accelerometer either underestimated or overestimated daily total sedentary time in comparison to the thigh-worn accelerometer, depending on the method used. However, withinindividual differences in sedentary time were similarly captured by each method, suggesting that the observed changes in sedentary time across retirement and the intervention were reliable. This study indicates that interventions to reduce sedentary time may be the most effective when targeted at the first years after retirement among women, but that the benefit for men may be highest during the last years in work life. As an activity tracker alone was insufficient to reduce sedentary time in the long term, other approaches or additional intervention components may be needed to attain long-term changes in sedentary timePaikallaanolo eläkkeelle siirryttäessä ja aktiivisuusintervention jälkeen Tämän tutkimuksen tavoitteena oli selvittää, miten liikemittarilla mitattu päivän paikallaanoloaika ja pitkittynyt paikallaanolo muuttuvat eläköidyttäessä käyttäen Finnish Retirement and Aging (FIREA)-tutkimuksen vuosittain toistettuja mittauksia (n=689). Tavoitteena oli myös tutkia, onko aktiivisuusrannekkeella vaikutusta paikallaanoloon juuri eläköityneillä henkilöillä käyttäen koe- ja kontrolliasetelmaa REACT-interventiotutkimuksen aineistossa (n=231). Tutkimuksessa mitattiin paikallaanoloa ranteessa pidettävällä liikemittarilla, minkä vuoksi tavoitteena oli myös vertailla rannemittarilla saatuja paikallaanolon estimaatteja reisimittarilla saatuihin luotettavampiin paikallaanolon estimaatteihin. Päivän kokonaispaikallaanolo muuttui ainoastaan naisilla, jotka eläköityivät fyysisistä ja palveluammateista. He lisäsivät paikallaanoloaikaansa 54 minuutilla päivässä heti eläköitymisen jälkeen. Pitkittynyt paikallaanolo lisääntyi sen sijaan noin puolella tunnilla päivässä sekä naisilla että miehillä ammatista riippumatta. Muutosten ajoittuminen eläköitymiseen nähden erosi naisten ja miesten välillä, koska naisilla pitkittyneen paikallaanoloajan lisääntyminen tapahtui heti eläköitymisen jälkeen, kun taas miehet lisäsivät pitkittynyttä paikallaanoloa tasaisesti viimeisistä työvuosista ensimmäisiin eläkevuosiin. Eläköitymisen jälkeiselle ajalle kohdistettu vuoden kestoinen aktiivisuusrannekeinterventio ei saanut aikaan muutoksia kokonaispaikallaanoloajassa eikä pitkittyneessä paikallaanoloajassa kontrolliryhmään nähden. Verrattuna reisimittariin, rannemittarilla saadut tulokset joko aliarvioivat tai yliarvioivat paikallaanoloa kiihtyvyysmittaridatan prosessointimenetelmästä riippuen. Havaitut paikallaanoloajan muutokset olivat kuitenkin samanlaisia menetelmästä riippumatta, joten paikallaanolon muutoksia koskevat tulokset ovat todennäköisesti luotettavia. Tämän tutkimuksen tulokset osoittavat, että interventiot paikallaanolon vähentämiseksi ovat perusteltuja pian eläköitymisen jälkeen naisilla, kun taas miehillä suurimmat hyödyt voidaan mahdollisesti saavuttaa jo viimeisinä työvuosina. Aktiivisuusrannekkeen käyttö ei riittänyt vähentämään paikallaanoloa pitkällä aikavälillä, minkä vuoksi rannekkeen lisäksi voidaan tarvita muita keinoja

Changes in prolonged sedentary behaviour across the transition to retirement

Background Prolonged sedentary behaviour is associated with a higher risk of cardiometabolic diseases. This longitudinal study examined changes in daily total, prolonged (>= 30 min) and highly prolonged (>= 60 min) sedentary time across the transition to retirement by gender and occupational status. Methods We included 689 aging workers (mean (SD) age before retirement 63.2 (1.6) years, 85% women) from the Finnish Retirement and Aging Study (FIREA). Sedentary time was measured annually using a wrist-worn triaxial ActiGraph accelerometer before and after retirement with on average 3.4 (range 2-4) measurement points. Results Women increased daily total sedentary time by 22 min (95% CI 13 to 31), prolonged sedentary time by 34 min (95% CI 27 to 42) and highly prolonged sedentary time by 15 min (95% CI 11 to 20) in the transition to retirement, and remained at the higher level of sedentary time years after retirement. The highest increase in total and prolonged sedentary time was observed among women retiring from manual occupations. Men had more total and prolonged sedentary time compared with women before and after retirement. Although no changes in men's sedentary time were observed during the retirement transition, there was a gradual increase of 33 min (95% CI 6 to 60) in prolonged sedentary time from pre-retirement years to post-retirement years. Conclusion The transition to retirement was accompanied by an abrupt increase in prolonged sedentary time in women but a more gradual increase in men. The retirement transition may be a suitable time period for interventions aiming to decrease sedentary behaviour.Peer reviewe

Physical Activity across Retirement Transition by Occupation and Mode of Commute

Purpose Retirement induces changes in the composition of daily physical activity. Our aim was to examine changes in accelerometer-measured physical activity around transition to statutory retirement among men and women by occupational category and by preretirement modes of commuting. Methods We included 562 workers (mean [SD] age, 63.3 [1.1] yr; 85% women) from the Finnish Retirement and Aging study. The participants wore an accelerometer on their nondominant wrist for 1 wk before and 1 wk after retirement, with 1 yr between the measurements. We compared mean daily activity counts before and after retirement between manual and nonmanual occupations by gender and by preretirement commuting mode using linear models with generalized estimating equations. Results Before retirement, women were more active than men (2550 (95% confidence interval, 2500-2590) vs 2060 (1970-2140) mean daily activity counts), with the most active group being women in manual occupations. After retirement, physical activity decreased by 3.9% among women and increased, albeit nonsignificantly, by 3.1% in men. The decrease was most pronounced among women in manual and increase among men in nonmanual occupations. After retirement, women remained more active than men (2450 (95% confidence interval 2390-2500) vs 2120 (2010-2230) counts). Active commuting, especially cycling, before retirement was associated with higher physical activity both before and after retirement, and these people also maintained their total activity lever better than did those who commuted by public transportation. Conclusions Although women in manual occupations decreased and men in nonmanual occupations increased their activity after retirement, women were more active than men both before and after retirement. Those who engaged in active commuting before retirement maintained their activity level also after retirement.Peer reviewe

Work ability and physical fitness among aging workers : the Finnish Retirement and Aging Study

Background With advancing age, physical capacity gradually decreases which may lead to decreased work ability, if the physical work requirements remain the same. Examination of the importance of physical fitness for work ability among aging workers will help to find potential strategies to promote work ability in old age. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between physical fitness and work ability among aging workers. Methods Aging workers (n = 288, mean age 62.5, 83% women) from the Finnish Retirement and Aging study underwent cardiorespiratory, muscular fitness and functional testing. Work ability was inquired on a scale 0-10 from poor to excellent. Association between physical fitness indicators and work ability was examined using ordinary least squares regression, taking into account age, gender, occupational status, heavy physical work, body mass index and accelerometer-measured daily total physical activity. Results VO2peak, modified push-up test and maximal walking speed were positively associated with work ability (beta = 0.51, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.29-0.74, beta = 0.46, 95% CI 0.26-0.66 and beta = 0.23, 95% CI 0.07-0.39, respectively), while chair rise test time was inversely associated with work ability (beta = -0.23, 95% CI -0.39--0.06). No associations were found between hand grip strength or sit-up test and work ability. Conclusions Cardiorespiratory fitness, upper body strength, and lower extremity function were positively associated with work ability. Good physical fitness may help to maintain work ability among aging workers.Peer reviewe

Changes in the 24-h movement behaviors during the transition to retirement : compositional data analysis

Background Transition to retirement is shown to affect sleep, sedentary time and physical activity, but no previous studies have examined how retirement changes the distribution of time spent daily in these movement behaviors. The aim of this study was to examine longitudinally how the composition of 24-h movement behaviors changes during the transition to retirement using compositional data analysis (CoDA). Methods We included 551 retiring public sector workers (mean age 63.2 years, standard deviation 1.1) from the Finnish Retirement and Aging study. The study participants wore a wrist-worn ActiGraph accelerometer for one week 24 h per day before and after retirement, with one year between the measurements. The daily proportions to time spent sleeping, in sedentary behavior (SED), light physical activity (LPA) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) were estimated using the GGIR package. Changes in the daily proportions of movement behaviors were examined using Compositional Data Analysis version of linear mixed models. Results In general, the proportion of time spent in active behaviors decreased relative to time spent in passive behaviors after retirement (p < .001). This change depended on occupation (occupation*time interaction p < .001). After retirement manual workers increased the proportions of both sleep and SED in relation to active behaviors, whereas non-manual workers increased the proportion of sleep in relation to active behaviors and SED. The proportion of MVPA decreased relatively more than the proportion of LPA (p = 0.01), independently of gender and occupation. Conclusions Retirement induced a decrease in the proportion of time spent in active behaviors, especially time spent in MVPA. Future studies are needed to find ways to maintain or increase daily physical activity levels at the cost of sedentary behaviors among retirees.Peer reviewe

The Effect of Consumer-based Activity Tracker Intervention on Physical Activity among Recent Retirees-An RCT Study

Purpose The randomized controlled trial REACT (NCT03320746) examined the effect of a 12-month consumer-based activity tracker intervention on accelerometer-measured physical activity among recent retirees. Methods Altogether 231 recently retired Finnish adults (age, 65.2 +/- 1.1 yr, mean +/- SD; 83% women) were randomized to intervention and control groups. Intervention participants were requested to wear a commercial wrist-worn activity tracker (Polar Loop 2; Polar, Kempele, Finland) for 12 months, to try to reach the daily activity goals shown on the tracker display, and to upload their activity data to a Web-based program every week. The control group received no intervention. Accelerometer-based outcome measurements of daily total, light physical activity (LPA), and moderate to vigorous (MVPA) physical activity were conducted at baseline and at 3-, 6-, and 12-month time points. Hierarchical linear mixed models were used to examine the differences between the groups over time. All analyses were performed by intention-to-treat principle and adjusted for wake wear time. Results The use of a commercial activity tracker did not increase daily total activity, LPA, or MVPA over the 12-months period when compared with nonuser controls (group-time interaction, P = 0.39, 0.23, and 0.77, respectively). There was an increase in LPA over the first 6 months in both the intervention (26 min center dot d(-1), 95% confidence interval [CI] = 13 to 39) and the control (14 min center dot d(-1), 95% CI = 1 to 27) groups, but the difference between the groups was not significant (12 min center dot d(-1), 95% CI = -6 to 30). In both groups, LPA decreased from 6 to 12 months. Conclusion The 12-month use of a commercial activity tracker does not appear to elicit significant changes in the daily total activity among a general population sample of recent retirees, thus highlighting the need to explore other alternatives to increase physical activity in this target group.Peer reviewe

Changes in the 24-h movement behaviors during the transition to retirement : compositional data analysis

Background Transition to retirement is shown to affect sleep, sedentary time and physical activity, but no previous studies have examined how retirement changes the distribution of time spent daily in these movement behaviors. The aim of this study was to examine longitudinally how the composition of 24-h movement behaviors changes during the transition to retirement using compositional data analysis (CoDA). Methods We included 551 retiring public sector workers (mean age 63.2 years, standard deviation 1.1) from the Finnish Retirement and Aging study. The study participants wore a wrist-worn ActiGraph accelerometer for one week 24 h per day before and after retirement, with one year between the measurements. The daily proportions to time spent sleeping, in sedentary behavior (SED), light physical activity (LPA) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) were estimated using the GGIR package. Changes in the daily proportions of movement behaviors were examined using Compositional Data Analysis version of linear mixed models. Results In general, the proportion of time spent in active behaviors decreased relative to time spent in passive behaviors after retirement (p < .001). This change depended on occupation (occupation*time interaction p < .001). After retirement manual workers increased the proportions of both sleep and SED in relation to active behaviors, whereas non-manual workers increased the proportion of sleep in relation to active behaviors and SED. The proportion of MVPA decreased relatively more than the proportion of LPA (p = 0.01), independently of gender and occupation. Conclusions Retirement induced a decrease in the proportion of time spent in active behaviors, especially time spent in MVPA. Future studies are needed to find ways to maintain or increase daily physical activity levels at the cost of sedentary behaviors among retirees.Peer reviewe

The Impact of a 12-Month Activity Tracker Intervention on Activity Behavior Across Body Mass Index Subgroups Among Recent Retirees: Post Hoc Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: This study examined the effectiveness of a 12-month activity tracker-based intervention on activity behavior among recent retirees (Enhancing physical ACTivity and healthy aging among recent REtirees [REACT]) in subgroups based on body mass index. Methods: REACT trial randomized 231 participants (mean age 65.2) into intervention and control groups. Main outcomes were accelerometer-measured moderate-to-vigorous (MVPA) and light physical activity (LPA) and sedentary time (SED) measured at baseline and 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups. As a post hoc analysis, the intervention effect was examined among participants with normal weight (n = 77), overweight (n = 89), and obesity (n = 61). Results: An intervention effect was observed among participants with obesity in LPA (time × group P = .045) mirrored by a similar, albeit nonsignificant, effect in SED (P = .067), but not in MVPA (P = .92). A transient increase of 41 minutes per day (95% confidence interval, 14 to 68) in LPA was observed at 6 months among the intervention group, with a concomitant decrease of 42 minutes per day (−72 to −12) in SED. However, these changes were not maintained at 12 months. No between-group differences in changes over time were observed among participants with normal or overweight. Conclusions: Activity trackers may be particularly suitable for promoting changes in LPA and SED among older adults with obesity. However, their long-term effectiveness might be limited.</p

Eriarvoisuuden kasvot liikunnassa

Vaikka sosioekonomisen aseman tiedetään olevan yhteydessä fyysisen aktiivisuuden ja paikallaanolon määrään, ei tiedetä, miten eri ammattiasemassa olevien työntekijöiden aktiivisuustaso eroaa työ- ja vapaapäivinä. Tämän tutkimuksen tarkoituksena oli tutkia istumisen ja seisomisen sekä kevyen ja reippaan aktiivisuuden määrää eri ammattiryhmien välillä työ- ja vapaapäivinä ikääntyneillä työntekijöillä.Tutkimus perustuu Finnish Retirement and Aging (FIREA) –seurantatutkimuksen kliiniseen osatutkimukseen, johon osallistui 276 varsinaissuomalaista kunta-alan työntekijää (keski-ikä 62,8 vuotta (keskihajonta 0,9), 83 % naisia), jotka jaettiin kolmeen ammattiryhmään: ylemmät toimihenkilöt, toimihenkilöt sekä työntekijät. Tutkittavat pitivät reiteen kiinnitettyä liikemittaria (Axivity AX3) neljä vuorokautta, joista kahden tuli olla työpäiviä ja kahden vapaapäiviä, ja täyttivät päiväkirjaa nukkumaanmeno- ja työajoistaan. Tilastollisiin analyyseihin valittiin mukaan vain sellaiset työ- ja vapaapäivät, joissa mittarin pitoaika hereillä ollessa oli vähintään 10 tuntia.Tulokset osoittivat, että työpäivinä toimihenkilöryhmiin kuuluvat istuivat enemmän ja pidempiä jaksoja ja liikkuivat vähemmän kuin työntekijät, mutta vapaapäivänä ammattiryhmien välillä ei havaittu aktiivisuuseroja. Ammattiryhmien väliset työpäivän aktiivisuuserot muodostuivat työajan aikana, eikä työpäivän vapaa-aikana aktiivisuuseroja ollut. Verrattaessa aktiivisuutta työpäivinä, työntekijöillä aktiivisuus oli matalampi vapaa-aikana kuin työaikana, kun taas toimihenkilöllä korkeampi vapaa-aikana kuin työaikana.Ikääntyneillä kunta-alan työntekijöillä havaitut ammattiryhmien väliset aktiivisuuserot muodostuivat pelkästään työajan aktiivisuuseroista, sillä vapaa-aikana tai vapaapäivinä ammattiryhmien välisiä aktiivisuuseroja ei havaittu. Työntekijöillä työaika oli aktiivisempaa kuin vapaa-aika, kun taas toimihenkilöillä työaika oli passiivisempaa kuin vapaa-aika. Näin ollen toimihenkilöt voisivat hyötyä esimerkiksi työaikaan kohdennetuista aktiivisuusinterventioista ja istumisen tauottamisesta, kun taas työntekijäammateissa olisi tärkeä kiinnittää huomioita aktiivisen työn tauottamiseen ja vapaa-ajan aktiivisuuden lisäämiseen mielekkäin keinoin.</p

Effects of physical activity intervention on 24-h movement behaviors: a compositional data analysis

We utilized compositional data analysis (CoDA) to study changes in the composition of the 24-h movement behaviors during an activity tracker based physical activity intervention. A total of 231 recently retired Finnish retirees were randomized into intervention and control groups. The intervention participants were requested to use a commercial activity tracker bracelet with daily activity goal and inactivity alerts for 12 months. The controls received no intervention. The 24-h movement behaviors, i.e., sleep, sedentary time (SED), light physical activity (LPA), and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) were estimated from wrist-worn ActiGraph data using the GGIR R-package. Three balance coordinates describing the composition of movement behaviors were applied: ratio of active vs. passive behaviors, LPA vs. MVPA, and sleep vs. SED. A linear mixed model was used to study changes between the baseline and 6-month time point. Overall, the changes in the 24-h movement behaviors were small and did not differ between the groups. Only the ratio of LPA to MVPA tended to change differently between the groups (group*time interaction p = 0.08) as the intervention group increased LPA similarly to controls but decreased their MVPA. In conclusion, the use of a commercial activity tracker may not be enough to induce changes in the 24-h movement behaviors among retirees