Prevalence of physical activity among Chinese adults: results from the International Collaborative Study of Cardiovascular Disease in Asia.
OBJECTIVE
Determining physical activity levels in the community provides a context for the development and implementation of programs aimed at increasing these activity levels. Therefore, we assessed overall, work-related, and leisure-time physical activity in a representative sample of Chinese adults, aged 35 to 74 years, using data from the International Collaborative Study of Cardiovascular Disease in Asia.


METHODS
Being physically active was defined as participating in 30 or more minutes of moderate or vigorous activity daily. Work-related and leisure-time physical activities were defined as being physically active and participating in any moderate or vigorous activity at work or during leisure time, respectively.


RESULTS
In rural and urban China, 78.1% and 21.8% of residents, respectively, were physically active; 75.8% and 16.5%, respectively, participated in work-related activity; and 28.9% and 7.9%, respectively, participated in leisure-time physical activity. In both rural and urban settings, younger adults, men, and southern residents were more likely to be physically active and to participate in work-related and leisure-time physical activity than older adults, women, and northern residents.


CONCLUSIONS
Intervention strategies to promote leisure-time physical activity, especially among urban residents, should be considered a major health priority in China.
Muntner
Paul
P
Department of Epidemiology, Tulane University SPHTM, 1430 Tulane Ave, SL-18, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA. pmuntner@tulane.edu
Gu
Donfeng
D
Wildman
Rachel P
RP
Chen
Jichun
J
Qan
Wenqi
W
Whelton
Paul K
PK
He
Jiang
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D016272:Occupational Health; D016730:Program Development; D012424:Rural Population; D014505:Urban Population