Background: Physical demands may vary between white collar and blue collar occupations when evaluating specific physiological differences such as one's weight, body mass index and body fat percentage.
Objective: To explore nutritional, anthropometric, and physical-activity differences between young and middle-aged WC and BC workers.
Methods: Ninety-one male participants aged 19-64 that were either WC and/or BC workers completed a 3-day food recall, modified Baecke Questionnaire, and had their height, weight, body mass index and body fat percentage measured. Participants were classified as: young-white-collar, young-blue-collar, middle-white-collar or middle-blue-collar workers.
Results: No nutritional differences within ages or between occupations were reported. Body mass index and body fat percentage were lower for young vs. middle-aged workers. Lastly, physical-activity at work was higher for young and middle-aged Blue collar workers, while White collar workers participated in more physical activity outside of work.
Conclusions: The present findings suggest that the observed increases in body fat percentage and body mass index with age, are independent of occupation.
Keywords: Age; blue collar; calories; macronutrients; work index.