Obesity, Fruit and Vegetable Intake, and Physical Activity Patterns in Austrian Farmers Compared to the General Population

Sandra Haider, Maria Wakolbinger, Anita Rieder and Eva Winzer
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Sandra Haider: Center for Public Health, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15/1, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Maria Wakolbinger: Center for Public Health, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15/1, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Anita Rieder: Center for Public Health, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15/1, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Eva Winzer: Center for Public Health, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15/1, 1090 Vienna, Austria

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 15, 1-13

Abstract: Low fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake, sedentary behavior, excessive alcohol consumption, and smoking are risk factors for the development of non-communicable diseases. This study describes the patterns and factors of nutrition (F&V and alcohol intake), physical activity (PA), obesity, and other chronic diseases of 10,053 adult farmers (52.7% female) in Austria, based on the cross-sectional survey from the Austrian Social Insurance Institution for the Self-Employed and compared with the results of the general Austrian population from 2019 ( n = 14,606; 53.7% female). Compared to the general Austrian population, farmers showed a higher prevalence of overweight and obesity (42.8% vs. 36.5%; 18.8% vs. 17.1%), as well as hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes mellitus. Additionally, farmers ate less F&V (0 servings/day 39.7% vs. 14.0%; 1–4 servings/day 55.5% vs. 80.8%) and only 4.8% vs. 5.1% ( p < 0.001) fulfilled the F&V recommendations. Lower participation in endurance training (38.3% vs. 52.1%) was found, whereas farmers did more strength training (64.1% vs. 27.6%). Those who failed to fulfill the PA recommendations reported worse health status (OR: 3.14; 95%-CI: 2.08–4.76) and a higher chance for obesity (OR: 1.68; 95%-CI: 1.38–2.05). Since obesity rates among farmers are high and recommendations have rarely been met, every opportunity should be taken to promote healthy eating and adequate PA.

Keywords: physical activity; fruit and vegetable intake; alcohol; obesity; farmers (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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