The five-year effects of physical activity and sedentary behaviour on chronic disease morbidity of Chinese adults

Abstract

Chronic diseases are long-lasting and slow-progressing conditions that can be controlled but not cured. Physical activity and sedentary behaviour are risk factors for the major chronic diseases that account for most deaths in developed countries and are increasing rampantly in newly industrialised nations. In this paper, the five-year effects of physical activity and sedentary behaviour on the morbidity of five kinds of chronic diseases in Chinese adults aged 18-55 years are examined using statistical analysis with the China Health and Nutrition Survey data. Cohort study demonstrates that completing more than 280 metabolic equivalent (MET) hours a week of physical activity can significantly reduce the risk of diabetes, whereas having more than 14 hours a week of sedentary behaviour during leisure time can increase the risk of suffering from hypertension, and having more than 28 hours a week can increase the risk of suffering from diabetes.