title: Trends in leisure time and occupational physical activity in the Madrid region, 1995-2008.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Information on trends in physical activity is very scarce in Mediterranean countries, which have the highest sedentariness in Europe. This study describes recent trends in leisure time physical activity (LTPA) and at work in the Madrid region.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data were taken from representative annual surveys of population aged 18-64 years, between 1995-2008, 28,084 people participated. We calculated total energy, quantified in metabolic equivalent (MET-1 h per week), spent on LTPA and on light LTPA (<3 MET), moderate LTPA (3-6 MET) and vigorous LTPA (>6 MET). The annual change in LTPA was estimated by linear regression, and occupational activity by logistic regression, adjusting for age, gender and educational level.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total amount of LTPA in MET-1 h per week declined by 19.8% (P<.001) between 1995-2008; for both genders, all age groups and educational levels, except for those with the lowest level of education. The adjusted annual change in MET-1 h per week was: -0.21 (P<.001) for total LTPA; -0.1 (P<.001) for light; -0.08 (P<.001) for moderate; and -0.03 (P=.192) for vigorous. This decline is reflected by a shift to the left of the LTPA distribution in the population. Occupational physical inactivity has increased in the general population (odds ratio for annual change=1.01; 95% confidence interval, 1-1.02); specially in women, young and middle aged, and intermediate educational level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There has been a decline in LTPA, mainly in light and moderate activities, accompanied by greater occupational physical inactivity. This could have contributed to the increase in obesity in the Community of Madrid between 1995-2008.
authors.affiliation: Área de Sistemas de Información Farmacéutica, Consejería de Sanidad de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Carmen M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Meseguer
authors.forename: Iñaki
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Galán
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Herruzo
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Artalejo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D016272:Occupational Health; D013030:Spain; D014504:Urban Health; D055815:Young Adult