Risk of Insulin Resistance: Comparison of the Commerce vs. Industry Sector and Associated Variables

Background: Insulin resistance (IR) is a key metabolic alteration that precedes type 2 diabetes and is closely linked to obesity and lifestyle factors. Occupational context may influence IR risk through variations in physical activity, diet, and socioeconomic determinants. Objective: To compare the...

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Main Authors: María Pilar Fernández-Figares Vicioso, Pere Riutord Sbert, Ángel Arturo López-González, José Ignacio Ramírez-Manent, José Luis del Barrio Fernández, María Teófila Vicente Herrero
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Diseases
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9721/13/5/150
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author María Pilar Fernández-Figares Vicioso
Pere Riutord Sbert
Ángel Arturo López-González
José Ignacio Ramírez-Manent
José Luis del Barrio Fernández
María Teófila Vicente Herrero
author_facet María Pilar Fernández-Figares Vicioso
Pere Riutord Sbert
Ángel Arturo López-González
José Ignacio Ramírez-Manent
José Luis del Barrio Fernández
María Teófila Vicente Herrero
author_sort María Pilar Fernández-Figares Vicioso
collection DOAJ
description Background: Insulin resistance (IR) is a key metabolic alteration that precedes type 2 diabetes and is closely linked to obesity and lifestyle factors. Occupational context may influence IR risk through variations in physical activity, diet, and socioeconomic determinants. Objective: To compare the risk of insulin resistance between workers in the commerce and industry sectors and identify associated sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, in order to improve their occupational health. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 56,856 Spanish workers, assessing four IR-related indices: Triglyceride-Glucose Index (TyG), TyG-BMI (Triglyceride-Glucose Body Mass Index), Metabolic Score for Insulin Resistance (METS-IR), and the Single-Point Insulin Sensitivity Estimator (SPISE-IR). The analysis was stratified by sex and sector (commerce vs. industry) and included assessments of age, education level, physical activity, adherence to the Mediterranean diet, and smoking status. Multinomial logistic regressions were performed to determine the factors associated with high IR scores. Results: Across all IR indicators, industry workers—particularly men—presented higher mean values and greater prevalence of high-risk scores compared to those in commerce. Women showed lower values overall but also reflected sector-based differences. In both sexes, non-physical activity, non-adherence to the Mediterranean diet, and smoking were consistently associated with higher IR risk. Males exhibited significantly higher odds of elevated TyG (OR = 2.59, 95% CI: 2.41–2.78), while physical inactivity and poor diet emerged as the most powerful modifiable predictors across all scales (e.g., OR = 10.45 for TyG, OR = 12.33 for TyG-BMI). Industry sector was independently associated with higher odds of insulin resistance compared to commerce. Conclusions: Insulin resistance is more prevalent among industrial workers, especially men and those with unhealthy lifestyles. Occupational health strategies should target sector-specific risk profiles, emphasizing physical activity and dietary interventions.
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spelling doaj-art-b082cd5fbf034075a5254b171936b0a22025-08-20T02:33:52ZengMDPI AGDiseases2079-97212025-05-0113515010.3390/diseases13050150Risk of Insulin Resistance: Comparison of the Commerce vs. Industry Sector and Associated VariablesMaría Pilar Fernández-Figares Vicioso0Pere Riutord Sbert1Ángel Arturo López-González2José Ignacio Ramírez-Manent3José Luis del Barrio Fernández4María Teófila Vicente Herrero5Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome Group, Spanish Association of Specialists in Occupational Medicine, 28012 Madrid, SpainADEMA-Health Group of IUNICS, University of Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma, SpainObesity and Metabolic Syndrome Group, Spanish Association of Specialists in Occupational Medicine, 28012 Madrid, SpainADEMA-Health Group of IUNICS, University of Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma, SpainFaculty of Health Sciences, Rey Juan Carlos University, 28032 Madrid, SpainObesity and Metabolic Syndrome Group, Spanish Association of Specialists in Occupational Medicine, 28012 Madrid, SpainBackground: Insulin resistance (IR) is a key metabolic alteration that precedes type 2 diabetes and is closely linked to obesity and lifestyle factors. Occupational context may influence IR risk through variations in physical activity, diet, and socioeconomic determinants. Objective: To compare the risk of insulin resistance between workers in the commerce and industry sectors and identify associated sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, in order to improve their occupational health. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 56,856 Spanish workers, assessing four IR-related indices: Triglyceride-Glucose Index (TyG), TyG-BMI (Triglyceride-Glucose Body Mass Index), Metabolic Score for Insulin Resistance (METS-IR), and the Single-Point Insulin Sensitivity Estimator (SPISE-IR). The analysis was stratified by sex and sector (commerce vs. industry) and included assessments of age, education level, physical activity, adherence to the Mediterranean diet, and smoking status. Multinomial logistic regressions were performed to determine the factors associated with high IR scores. Results: Across all IR indicators, industry workers—particularly men—presented higher mean values and greater prevalence of high-risk scores compared to those in commerce. Women showed lower values overall but also reflected sector-based differences. In both sexes, non-physical activity, non-adherence to the Mediterranean diet, and smoking were consistently associated with higher IR risk. Males exhibited significantly higher odds of elevated TyG (OR = 2.59, 95% CI: 2.41–2.78), while physical inactivity and poor diet emerged as the most powerful modifiable predictors across all scales (e.g., OR = 10.45 for TyG, OR = 12.33 for TyG-BMI). Industry sector was independently associated with higher odds of insulin resistance compared to commerce. Conclusions: Insulin resistance is more prevalent among industrial workers, especially men and those with unhealthy lifestyles. Occupational health strategies should target sector-specific risk profiles, emphasizing physical activity and dietary interventions.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9721/13/5/150insulin resistancesociodemographic variablesMediterranean dietphysical activityoccupational health
spellingShingle María Pilar Fernández-Figares Vicioso
Pere Riutord Sbert
Ángel Arturo López-González
José Ignacio Ramírez-Manent
José Luis del Barrio Fernández
María Teófila Vicente Herrero
Risk of Insulin Resistance: Comparison of the Commerce vs. Industry Sector and Associated Variables
Diseases
insulin resistance
sociodemographic variables
Mediterranean diet
physical activity
occupational health
title Risk of Insulin Resistance: Comparison of the Commerce vs. Industry Sector and Associated Variables
title_full Risk of Insulin Resistance: Comparison of the Commerce vs. Industry Sector and Associated Variables
title_fullStr Risk of Insulin Resistance: Comparison of the Commerce vs. Industry Sector and Associated Variables
title_full_unstemmed Risk of Insulin Resistance: Comparison of the Commerce vs. Industry Sector and Associated Variables
title_short Risk of Insulin Resistance: Comparison of the Commerce vs. Industry Sector and Associated Variables
title_sort risk of insulin resistance comparison of the commerce vs industry sector and associated variables
topic insulin resistance
sociodemographic variables
Mediterranean diet
physical activity
occupational health
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9721/13/5/150
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AT joseignacioramirezmanent riskofinsulinresistancecomparisonofthecommercevsindustrysectorandassociatedvariables
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