Health study targets sitting drivers

Improving the sedentary lifestyles of transport workers is the focus of a new Griffith University study.

Targeting around 100 drivers from bus, tram and long-haul truck companies across South East Queensland, the study follows an earlier pilot aiming to address concern around the incidence of cardiovascular risk factors and diabetes within this group.

“Our original study with men and women in this profession found that unfortunately just over one-third of the participants exhibited three or more of the factors that characterise metabolic syndrome,” said Dr Helen Naug from Griffith’s Menzies Health Institute Queensland.

“This time we’re going to offer a similar but improved intervention to the drivers, but we want to expand the study to a much larger group from a cross-section of transport companies.”

Metabolic syndrome comprises a group of risk factors that increases an individual’s risk of developing heart disease and Type-2 diabetes.

Blood samples from drivers, a questionnaire on general health, lifestyle and diet as well as attendance at four interactive workshops over a four-month period will form part of the research.

The workshops will aim to teach drivers specific strategies for change, regarding exercise and nutrition within their workplace, since it is known that small manageable changes can make a difference in reducing the risk of developing diabetes and other risk factors of metabolic syndrome.

“We know that even small things like getting up to walk around the bus depot at the end of a five-hour driving stint can have a marked effect on an individual’s blood glucose or lipid levels and help decrease their risk of developing metabolic syndrome in the long term,” said Dr Naug.

“It’s these little changes for transport workers that can all add up to make a big impact on the health and wellbeing of the drivers.”

Surfside Buslines General Manager Martin Hall said the company is happy to be involved in the worthwhile research.

“Unfortunately, working as a bus driver can be a tough gig, in that there can be long stressful shifts which require them to sit down most of the time,” said Hall.

“Sometimes, drivers do continue to sit in their cabins during their breaks, but hopefully this is something that can be changed with them being encouraged by the study to get up and be a little more active.”