title: Physical activity patterns and correlates among adults from a developing country: the Sri Lanka Diabetes and Cardiovascular Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate patterns of physical activity (PA), the prevalence of physical inactivity and the relationships between PA and sociodemographic, clinical and biochemical parameters among Sri Lankan adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nationally representative population-based survey conducted in Sri Lanka.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on PA and associated details were obtained from 5000 adults. PA was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (short-form). A binary logistic regression analysis was performed using the dichotomous variable ‘health-enhancing PA’ (05‘active’, 15‘inactive’).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sample size was 4485. Mean age was 46.1 (SD 15.1) years, 39.5% were males. The mean weekly total MET (metabolic equivalents of task) minutes of PA among the study population was 4703 (SD 4369). Males (5464 (SD 5452)) had a significantly higher weekly total MET minutes than females (4205 (SD 3394); P,0.001). Rural adults (5175 (SD 4583)) were significantly more active than urban adults (2956 (SD 2847); P<0.001). Tamils had the highest mean weekly total MET minutes among ethnicities. Those with tertiary education had lowest mean weekly total MET minutes. In all adults 60.0% were in the ‘highly active’ category, while only 11.0% were ‘inactive’ (males 14.6%, females 8.7%; P<0.001). Of the ‘highly active’ adults, 85.8% were residing in rural areas. Results of the binary logistic regression analysis indicated that female gender (OR52?1), age .70 years (OR53.8), urban living (OR52.5), Muslim ethnicity (OR52.7), tertiary education (OR53.6), obesity (OR51.8), diabetes (OR51.6), hypertension (OR51.2) and metabolic syndrome (OR51.3) were all associated with significantly increased odds of being physically ‘inactive’.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of Sri Lankan adults were ‘highly active’ physically. Female gender, older age, urban living, Muslim ethnicity and tertiary education were all significant predictors of physical inactivity. Physical inactivity was associated with obesity, diabetes, hypertension and metabolic syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Diabetes Research Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Kynsey Road, Colombo, Sri Lanka. pkatulanda@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Prasad
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Katulanda
authors.forename: Ranil
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jayawardena
authors.forename: Ranil
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jayawardana
authors.forename: Priyanga
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ranasinghe
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Rezvi Sheriff
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Matthews
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003625:Data Collection; D003906:Developing Countries; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D055686:Metabolic Equivalent; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013188:Sri Lanka; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires