Abstract
BackgroundThis study aimed 1) to provide data estimates concerning overall moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) as well as MVPA during work, transport and leisure in Germany and 2) to investigate MVPA and possible associations with socio-demographic correlates.MethodsA cross-sectional telephone survey interviewed 2248 representative participants in the age of 18–65 years (1077 men; 42.4±13.4 years; body mass index: 25.3±4.5kg•m−2) regarding their self-reported physical activity across Germany. The Global Physical Activity Questionnaire was applied to investigate MVPA during work, transport and leisure and questions were answered concerning their demographics. MVPA was stratified by gender, age, body mass index, residential setting, educational and income level. To identify socio-demographic correlates of overall MVPA as well as in the domains, we used a series of linear regressions.Results52.8% of the sample achieved physical activity recommendations (53.7% men/52.1% women). Overall MVPA was highest in the age group 18–29 years (p<.05), in participants with 10 years of education (p<.05) and in participants with lowest income levels <1.500€ (p<.05). Regression analyses revealed that age, education and income were negatively associated with overall and work MVPA. Residential setting and education was positively correlated with transport MVPA, whereas income level was negatively associated with transport MVPA. Education was the only correlate for leisure MVPA with a positive association.ConclusionsThe present data underlines the importance of a comprehensive view on physical activity engagement according to the different physical activity domains and discloses a need for future physical activity interventions that consider socio-demographic variables, residential setting as well as the physical activity domain in Germany.
Highlights
There is convincing evidence that physical activity (PA) prevents and treats a wide range of physical and psychological disorders and increases longevity [1]
Concerning education the highest proportion of active participants were found with 10 years of education (61.3%) and lowest proportion in participants with university degree (39.1%), whereas the highest proportion concerning income levels was revealed in the category,1.500J with 61.0% and lowest proportion of active participants in .3.000J with 42.7% (Table 2)
Results of multiple linear regression analyses Multiple linear regression analyses showed that 3.5% of the variance in overall moderate- and vigorous-intensity PA (MVPA), 5.1% in work MVPA, 2% in transport MVPA and 1.3% of the variance in leisure MVPA were explained by the variables entered in the model (Table 4)
Summary
There is convincing evidence that physical activity (PA) prevents and treats a wide range of physical and psychological disorders and increases longevity [1]. According to the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) estimates, physical inactivity causes approximately 3.2 million world-wide premature deaths per year [2]. The global neglect of health-related PA led to international and national initiatives to promote PA, as evidenced in the recent global call for action within the Toronto Charter for PA [5]. In Germany these initiatives stimulated the development of a national policy action plan on the prevention of malnutrition, inactivity, obesity and connected diseases in 2008. This study aimed 1) to provide data estimates concerning overall moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) as well as MVPA during work, transport and leisure in Germany and 2) to investigate MVPA and possible associations with socio-demographic correlates
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