title: Gender-specific changes in physical activity pattern in Iran: national surveillance of risk factors of non-communicable diseases (2007-2011).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study describes the gender-specific pattern of physical activity (PA) in Iran 2011. The 4-year changes in PA levels (domains) are also determined according to the Iran's national surveys conducted on 2007 and 2011.
  
  
  METHODS
  Physical activity assessed based on the global physical activity questionnaire. In all, 4,121 (2007), and 7,436 (2011) adults were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on 2011 survey, 56.4 %, 39.2 %, and 74.4 % of participants were physically inactive at work, commuting and recreation, respectively. In all domains of PA, males showed a higher degree of activity (min/day) than females (P value <0.001). The overall prevalence of physical inactivity was increased from 15 % (2007) to 21.5 % (2011) (P value <0.001). Over the 4 years, a significant decline in total physical activity (MET × min/week) and the duration of commuting activity were noted in both genders. Work-related activity was dramatically decreased in females. However, the time spent in recreational activity remained relatively constant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This report indicating that the Iranian population, particularly females, have become less active during the survey period. Physical inactivity should receive more attention as a public health issue.
authors.affiliation: Center for Disease Control, Tehran, Iran, J-koohpayezadeh@sina.tums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Jalil
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koohpayehzadeh
authors.forename: Koorosh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Etemad
authors.forename: Mehrshad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abbasi
authors.forename: Alipasha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meysamie
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sheikhbahaei
authors.forename: Fereshteh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Asgari
authors.forename: Sina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Noshad
authors.forename: Nima
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hafezi-Nejad
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rafei
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mousavizadeh
authors.forename: Elias
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Khajeh
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ebadi
authors.forename: Manouchehr
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakhjavani
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Esteghamati
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires