Prevalence of physical inactivity in nine rural INDEPTH Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems in five Asian countries

Abstract

Background Physical inactivity leads to higher morbidity and mortality from chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as stroke and heart disease. In high income countries, studies have measured the population level of physical activity, but comparable data are lacking from most low and middle-income countries.Objective To assess the level of physical inactivity and its associated factors in selected rural sites in five Asian countries.Methods The multi-site cross-sectional study was conducted in nine rural Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) sites within the INDEPTH Network in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Using the methodology from the WHO STEPwise approach to Surveillance (STEPS), about 2,000 men and women aged 25–64 years were selected randomly from each HDSS sampling frame. Physical activity at work and during leisure time, and on travel to and from places, was measured using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire version 2 (GPAQ2). The total activity was calculated as the sum of the time spent in each domain of activities in metabolic equivalent-minutes per week, and was used to determine the level of physical activity. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess demographic factors associated with a low level of physical activity.Results The prevalence of physical inactivity ranged from 13% in Chililab HDSS in Vietnam to 58% in Filabavi HDSS in Vietnam. The majority of men were physically active, except in the two sites in Vietnam. Most of the respondents walked or cycled for at least 10 minutes to get from place to place, with some exceptions in the HDSSs in Indonesia and Thailand. The majority of respondents, both men and women, were inactive during their leisure time. Women, older age, and high level of education were significantly associated with physical inactivity.Conclusion This study showed that over 1/4 men and 1/3 women in Asian HDSSs within the INDEPTH Network are physically inactive. The wide fluctuations between the two HDSS in Vietnam offer an opportunity to explore further urbanisation and environmental impacts on physical activity. Considering the importance of physical activity in improving health and preventing chronic NCDs, efforts need to be made to promote physical activity particularly among women, older people, and high education groups in these settings.

Descriptive epidemiology of physical activity among Omani adults: the Oman World Health Survey, 2008

“…retirement, have on physical activity in Oman (26). The Omani adult population was found to be least active in the leisure domain compared with the transport and work domains, a similar pattern seen in other developing countries (27,28). In the coming years it is likely that work activity will decrease and may not be replaced with active transport and leisure, a trend seen in both developed and developing countries (29).…”

Emerging Burden of Cardiovascular Diseases in Bangladesh

“…During the period 1986-2006, estimated chronic diseaserelated mortality increased from 8% to 68%, whereas estimated communicable disease mortality dropped from 52% to 11% in a part of rural Bangladesh 8) . This epidemiological transition toward a higher chronic disease burden, particularly by CVD, is occurring most likely as a consequence of rapid urbanization 2,4,[10][11][12] , change in dietary habits and lifestyle 2,4,11,13,14) , popularity of fast food items and beverages 4,15) , rising consumption of tobacco 4,11,16) , increase in buying capacity 1,15) , decrease in the levels of physical activity 2,4,14,[16][17][18] , successful immunization programs against childhood infectious disease 9) , and concomitant decline of infec-In this paper, we have used the term "cardiovascular diseases (CVD)" according to the definitions of Global Burden of Disease (GBD) cause categories in terms of International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes 20) . Here CVD includes the following: 1) rheumatic heart disease (ICD-10 code: I01-I09), 2) hypertensive heart disease (ICD-10 code: I10-I13), 3) ischemic heart disease (ICD-10 code: I20-I25), 4) cerebrovascular disease (ICD-10 code: I60-I69), 5) inflammatory heart diseases (ICD-10 code: I30-I33, I38, I40, I42), and 6) other cardiovascular diseases (ICD-10 code: I00, I26-I28, I34-I37, I44-I51, I70-I99) 20) .…”

Exercise patterns and behaviour in Asian Indians: Data from the baseline survey of the Diabetes Community Lifestyle Improvement Program (D-CLIP)

“…However, with occupations becoming less labour-intensive with the advent of mechanization, individuals will now have to derive most of their physical activity from LTPA. The few studies on LTPA from India have reported that only a low proportion of individuals (ranging from 3 to 15%) are physically active in their leisure time [9][10][11]. This implies that overall physical activity levels in India are likely to decline precipitously in the future, setting the stage for acceleration in the incidence of NCDs.…”