The characteristics of inactive men working in a regional area of Queensland, Australia

Objectives: Men living in regional and remote areas of Australia have higher prevalence of chronic disease and are less likely to meet physical activity (PA) guidelines compared to their major city counterparts. The study aimed to identify the characteristics of men living in a regional area of Australia who are at risk of not meeting PA guidelines and may benefit from workplace strategies to promote PA. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: 1722 men from 130 worksites participated in a workplace health-screening program in Ipswich and West Moreton (South East Queensland, Australia) from 2005 to 2011. Self-reported data on demographic characteristics, lifestyle choices, medical history, and PA levels were collected. Univariable and multivariable Poisson loglinear regression were used to estimate relative risks (RR) for not meeting PA guidelines. A post hoc analysis was performed to identify the characteristics of men who were most at risk of not meeting PA guidelines. Results: The univariable model showed that men >40 years had 20% higher risks of not meeting PA guidelines than men <40 years (RR. = 1.20, CI. = 1.08-1.33). The multivariable model showed that men <40 years who had completed a trade certificate/diploma had the lowest risk of not meeting PA guidelines. Post hoc analysis showed that men >40 years and not educated beyond high school had the highest risk of not meeting PA guidelines (RR. = 1.91). Conclusions: Older and less educated men were most likely not to meet PA guidelines. PA promotion efforts in this region of Australia should target men with these characteristics, through tailored workplace intervention strategies.