A population-based survey on physical inactivity and leisure time physical activity among adults in Chiang Mai, Thailand, 2014

Abstract

BackgroundReducing physical inactivity among the population is a challenge for many nations. Targeting leisure time physical activity (LTPA) may be useful in increasing overall physical activity as it is assumed it is associated with a higher degree of free choice and personal preference than physical activity at work and during travel. The study explored the prevalence of physical inactivity and focused on the overall level of energy expenditure and energy level spent during leisure time among those who were physically inactive and assessed the stages of change for LTPA among those who were physically inactive.MethodsA population-based survey was conducted in 2014 in Chiang Mai, Thailand using a stratified two-stage cluster sampling technique. The Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) was used to collect the data on physical activity. Sufficient levels of physical activity (PA) were defined as ≥150 min/week of moderate-intensity PA or ≥75 min/week of vigorous-intensity PA or ≥600 metabolic equivalent of task (MET)-minutes/week. Weighted analyses were used to estimate the prevalence of physical inactivity, the total energy expenditure and expenditure during LTPA as well as stages of change among the physically inactive population.ResultsA total of 1744 people (808 men and 936 women), aged 15 to 64 years, participated in the study. We estimated that a quarter (26%) of the population were physically inactive. Physical inactivity was more commonly found among women than men in most age groups. LTPA contributed a small proportion of overall PA. On average, physically inactive men spent 132.8 MET-minutes/week and inactive women spent 208.2 MET-minutes/week in overall PA which is well below the 600 MET-minutes/week recommend by the World Health Organization. Around 75% of physically inactive people had no intention of engaging in regular LTPA.ConclusionAbout a quarter of the investigative population were physically inactive. Most physically inactive members of the population participate in low levels of LTPA, but the majority has no intention of increasing PA during leisure time. A large-scale health promotion program is needed, and it should focus on an approach for the pre-contemplated population.

Changes in the configuration and patterns of physical activity among Mongolian adults, 2005–2013

“…Leisure-time activity accounted for the second-largest proportion of physical activity composition in 2013. These results were inconsistent with those of previous studies of middle-income and developing countries in Asia that reported very little contribution of leisure-time activity to the overall physical activity 23 , 26 , 33 , 34 ) , while the dominance of leisure-time physical activity is common in developed countries 35 ) . Employee workers were more likely to engage in leisure physical activity than were self-employed workers in the present study.…”

“…The proportion of low-level physical activity among Mongolian adults, 10.9% in 2005 and 27.2% in 2013, was similar to that in a study from Thailand, which reported a proportion of 26.0% in 2014 23 ) and lower than those reported in studies from Bangladesh 24 ) , India 25 ) , and Vietnam 21 , 26 ) . Physical activity time of Mongolian adults was similar to the study from Vietnam 21 ) and longer than those of Bangladesh 24 ) , India 25 ) .…”

Prevalence and risk factors of physical inactivity among middle-aged and older Chinese in Shenzhen: a cross-sectional study

“…Our results showed that the prevalence of physical inactivity was higher than previously reported in other countries. In Americas, 5 Brazil, 6 Thailand 19 and Mexico, 20 the prevalence of physical inactivity was 43.3%, 41.1%, 26.0% and 19.4%, respectively.…”

“… 21 24 30 To our knowledge, physical inactivity is more common in women than in men in most countries. 19 We did the gender–covariate interactions tests to explore whether there were different risk factors among men and women, and found that smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol were significantly associated with physical inactivity level in men but not in women. The possible reason for this finding may be that the proportion of women who smoked cigarettes and drank alcohol in China was relatively lower than men.…”

Results from the Medical School Physical Activity Report Card (MSPARC) for a Thai Medical School: a mixed methods study

“…The GPAQ was considered as a valid and reliable instrument in assessing PA compared to accelerometer and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) [ 26 , 27 ]. The GPAQ was available in Thai version and widely used for population based surveys in Thailand [ 28 , 29 ]. The prevalence of PA was calculated by dividing the number of participants who met the recommended aerobic PA levels (at least 150 min/week of moderate-intensity aerobic PA or 75 min/week of vigorous-intensity aerobic PA or an equivalent combination of moderate- and vigorous-intensity aerobic PA) [ 30 ] by the total number of participants.…”