Prevalence of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors in the French Population: Results and Evolution between Two Cross-Sectional Population-Based Studies, 2006 and 2016.

Charlotte Verdot,Salomé Aubert,Valérie Deschamps,Benoît Salanave,Andréa Ramirez Varela

doi:10.3390/ijerph19042164

Abstract

Insufficient physical activity and sedentary behaviors (SB) are major risk factors for non-communicable diseases. Monitoring the prevalence of physical activity (PA) and SB is essential to meet the health needs of the population. This article presents the prevalence of PA and SB in the French population and their evolution during the last decade. Data come from two cross-sectional surveys, representative of the population in France, the “Etude Nationale Nutrition Santé” 2006–2007 and the Esteban study 2014–2016, and were collected through the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and the Recent Physical Activity Questionnaire for adults, the Youth Risk Behavior Survey and specific questionnaire for children. In 2014–2016, 71% of men and 53% of women met the PA recommendations (5 or more days per week with a moderate-intensity physical activity of at least 30 min per day). Since 2006–2007, PA has decreased for women, but increased for men; 80% of adults reported a daily leisure screen time of at least three hours in 2014–2016, in strong growth since 2006–2007. Among children, only 51% of boys and 33% of girls were meeting the PA recommendations (at least 60 min of moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity daily). PA decreased significantly after the age of 10. Three-quarters of children spent two hours or more in front of a screen every day. These results show a lack of PA, in particular among women and girls, a high prevalence of SB in the French population, and a deterioration of these behaviours between 2006 and 2016.

Highlights

Physical activity is defined as “any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that requires energy expenditure” [1]
Three-quarters of children spent two hours or more in front of a screen every day. These results show a lack of physical activity (PA), in particular among women and girls, a high prevalence of sedentary behaviors (SB) in the French population, and a deterioration of these behaviours between 2006 and 2016
The results of the Esteban study provide an overview of the physical activity and sedentary behaviors of adults and children living in metropolitan France in 2014–2016

Summary

Introduction

Physical activity is defined as “any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that requires energy expenditure” [1]. It included physical activity at work, at home, for transport, and during leisure time. The current WHO recommendations on physical activity for health in children and adolescents (5–17 years) are to participate in at least 60 min of moderate to vigorous-intensity physical activity daily, and for adults, at least 150–300 min of moderate-intensity physical activity throughout the week, or at least 75–150 min of vigorous-intensity physical activity, or an equivalent combination of moderate- and vigorous-intensity activity [8]. In France, guidelines recommended that adults spread out their activity during the week, in doing at

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