Association Between Workplace Sedentary Behavior, Age, and Waist-to-Height Ratio in Spanish Male Workers: An Observational Study in a Large Occupational Cohort

de Arriba Santos, Alejandro; Santamaría, Gema; Mielgo, Raúl Cobreros; Cacharro, Luis M.; López-Llorente, Álvaro; Jiménez-Callejo, Elena; Seco-Calvo, Jesús; Fernández-Lázaro, Diego

doi:10.3390/safety11040105

This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.

Open AccessArticle

Association Between Workplace Sedentary Behavior, Age, and Waist-to-Height Ratio in Spanish Male Workers: An Observational Study in a Large Occupational Cohort

by

Alejandro de Arriba Santos

¹,

Gema Santamaría

^2,*

,

Raúl Cobreros Mielgo

¹

,

Luis M. Cacharro

³,

Álvaro López-Llorente

⁴

,

Elena Jiménez-Callejo

⁵,

Jesús Seco-Calvo

^1,6

and

Diego Fernández-Lázaro

^7,8,*

¹

Physiotherapy Department, Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), University of Leon, Campus de Vegazana, 24071 Leon, Spain

²

Department of Anatomy and Radiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Campus of Soria, University of Valladolid, 42003 Soria, Spain

³

Department of Ophthalmology of Salamanca University Assistance Complex (CAUSA), Salamanca University Hospital, 37007 Salamanca, Spain

⁴

Aranda Polyclinic Center, 09400 Aranda de Duero, Spain

⁵

Research Support Unit, Soria Healthcare Management, Soria University Healthcare Complex (CAUSO), Santa Bárbara Hospital, 42004 Soria, Spain

⁶

Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Basque Country University, 48900 Leioa, Spain

⁷

Histology Area, Department of Cell Biology, Genetics, Histology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Valladolid, Campus de Soria, 42004 Soria, Spain

⁸

Neurobiology Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valladolid, 47005 Valladolid, Spain

^*

Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Safety 2025, 11(4), 105; https://doi.org/10.3390/safety11040105 (registering DOI)

Submission received: 20 September 2025 / Revised: 28 October 2025 / Accepted: 30 October 2025 / Published: 4 November 2025

Download Versions Notes

Abstract

Prolonged sitting (PS) in the workplace has been linked to a higher risk of developing non-communicable chronic diseases. Simultaneously, an elevated waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) is considered a reliable measure of increased risk for the same condition. The main objective of this research was to examine the relationship between workplace PS and increased WHtR among male workers from the Spanish region of Castilla y León. The secondary objective was to assess how age affects elevated WHtR in workers. This retrospective observational study was carried out in accordance with the STROBE guidelines. The sample included 85,670 male workers, categorized by job type (with or without PS) and age (<40 years or ≥40 years). Chi-square test (X²), Pearson correlation coefficients, and odd ratios (OR) were used to analyze associations. Among workers with PS, X² = 0.73 (p = 0.391) and 1.11 (p = 0.292) were reported, and among those without PS, X² = 0.86 (p = 0.354) and 1.24 (p = 0.265), for the years 2022 and 2023, respectively. Therefore, there was no significant association between workers with or without PS and an elevated WHtR, both in those younger than and older than 40 years of age. Advanced age (≥40 years) showed a significant association with increased WHtR (p < 0.01; OR = 2.6). However, no statistical association was observed between PS and elevated WHtR (p > 0.05; OR = 1.15). These findings suggest that age plays a more prominent role than occupational PS time in WHtR among male workers. Future studies should consider other factors, including physical activity and dietary habits, that could affect WHtR.

Keywords: prolonged sitting; waist-to-height ratio; workers; risk factors; occupational health; prediction

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

de Arriba Santos, A.; Santamaría, G.; Mielgo, R.C.; Cacharro, L.M.; López-Llorente, Á.; Jiménez-Callejo, E.; Seco-Calvo, J.; Fernández-Lázaro, D. Association Between Workplace Sedentary Behavior, Age, and Waist-to-Height Ratio in Spanish Male Workers: An Observational Study in a Large Occupational Cohort. Safety 2025, 11, 105. https://doi.org/10.3390/safety11040105

AMA Style

de Arriba Santos A, Santamaría G, Mielgo RC, Cacharro LM, López-Llorente Á, Jiménez-Callejo E, Seco-Calvo J, Fernández-Lázaro D. Association Between Workplace Sedentary Behavior, Age, and Waist-to-Height Ratio in Spanish Male Workers: An Observational Study in a Large Occupational Cohort. Safety. 2025; 11(4):105. https://doi.org/10.3390/safety11040105

Chicago/Turabian Style

de Arriba Santos, Alejandro, Gema Santamaría, Raúl Cobreros Mielgo, Luis M. Cacharro, Álvaro López-Llorente, Elena Jiménez-Callejo, Jesús Seco-Calvo, and Diego Fernández-Lázaro. 2025. "Association Between Workplace Sedentary Behavior, Age, and Waist-to-Height Ratio in Spanish Male Workers: An Observational Study in a Large Occupational Cohort" Safety 11, no. 4: 105. https://doi.org/10.3390/safety11040105

APA Style

de Arriba Santos, A., Santamaría, G., Mielgo, R. C., Cacharro, L. M., López-Llorente, Á., Jiménez-Callejo, E., Seco-Calvo, J., & Fernández-Lázaro, D. (2025). Association Between Workplace Sedentary Behavior, Age, and Waist-to-Height Ratio in Spanish Male Workers: An Observational Study in a Large Occupational Cohort. Safety, 11(4), 105. https://doi.org/10.3390/safety11040105

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Menu

Association Between Workplace Sedentary Behavior, Age, and Waist-to-Height Ratio in Spanish Male Workers: An Observational Study in a Large Occupational Cohort

Abstract

Share and Cite

Article Metrics

Article Access Statistics

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI