Major Factors Associated with Physical Inactivity among Korean adults: the 6th Knhanes

Abstract

Modifiable risk behaviors like physical inactivity and smoking, which accounts for the majority deaths of many chronic diseases including cardiovascular one, is reported to lower the quality of life of adults. We investigated to identify the major influencing factors of physical inactivity among Korean adults. 1649 participants were included for multi-variable analysis using complex sampling methods. The questionnaires about the demographic, socio-economic status and health-related behaviors were used. In this study, to identify the major factors of physical inactivity, the analysis used the data of aged 20 or over respondents from the 6th KNHANES. The most associated factor of the physical inactivity was the problem of chewing ability, including aging after adjusting. The other influencing factors were lower income, depression, being presence of spouse in marital status, smoking and drinking habits respectively. This study revealed the associated factors of physical inactivity as oral health, economic status, psychological state, marital status and health related behaviors. Improving the state of oral health and modifying the behaviors like smoking and drinking should be targeted to enhance the general health among adults as well as solving the problem of physical inactivity. Oral health, socioeconomic status, psychological health and health related behaviors were found as the strong influencing problems of physical inactivity. Government, local authority and health professionals have to remind the responsibilities of the health promotion in the community in basis of these findings of this population in Korea.