Leisure-time physical activity in youth as a predictor of adult leisure physical activity among Japanese workers: a cross-sectional study

Fumihiko Kitamura,Hiroaki Itoh,Kazuhito Yokoyama,Noriko Hagi,Takehisa Matsukawa,Tomoe Mashiko

doi:10.1186/s12199-017-0648-1

Abstract

BackgroundWorkers in Japan are not sufficiently active; however, it remains unclear how their leisure-time physical activity habits may be developed. This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship of age- and intensity-specific leisure-time physical activity in youth to adulthood leisure-time physical activity habits among Japanese workers.MethodsIn 2012, 968 workers (333 males and 635 females) from three companies and six hospitals in the Tokai region of Japan agreed to complete and submit a self-administered questionnaire. Intensity-specific leisure-time physical activity at ages 12 and 20 years was assessed retrospectively, and workers’ current participation in regular leisure-time physical activity was assessed as an outcome measure. Multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using logistic regression analysis.ResultsMean ages for males and females were 40 and 37 years, respectively. Strenuous leisure-time physical activity at age 12 years was significantly positively associated with adulthood participation in leisure-time physical activity among male workers [adjusted OR (95% CI) = 2.29 (1.02, 5.14)]. Additionally, both strenuous and moderate physical activity at age 20 years was significantly positively associated with participation in regular leisure-time physical activity in adulthood among males and females.ConclusionsOur results suggest that some leisure-time physical activity in youth may predict adult workers’ participation in regular leisure-time physical activity in Japan. Encouragement of leisure-time physical activity in youth could therefore be an effective measure to develop adult leisure-time physical activity habits among workers.

Highlights

Workers in Japan are not sufficiently active; it remains unclear how their leisure-time physical activity habits may be developed
Whereas most previous studies have examined the association between total activity in youth and total activity in adulthood [10], this study focused on leisure-time physical activity
Women participating in current leisure-time physical activity had more holidays than women without current participation in leisure-time physical activity, and women had more holidays than men

Summary

Introduction

Workers in Japan are not sufficiently active; it remains unclear how their leisure-time physical activity habits may be developed. Physical activity is associated with reduced risk of many chronic diseases [1] including cardiovascular diseases [2, 3], type 2 diabetes [4], and several cancers [5, 6], in addition to all-cause mortality [7] Despite such apparent benefits of physical activity, a large proportion of adults in developed countries such as Japan do not participate in regular leisure-time physical activity. In Western countries, a non-negligible number of studies suggest the possibility that physical activity in childhood and youth is associated with future physical activity [9] Such a “carryover” may be effective for building workers’ leisure-time physical activity habits in Japan

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