title: The prevalence of physical activity and its associated factors among Malaysian adults: findings from the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2011.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Despite the health-enhancing benefits of physical activity, a large segment of the Malaysian population does not engage in regular physical activity at the recommended level. This study aimed to determine physical activity patterns and the associated sociodemographic correlates of physical activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on physical activity were obtained from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2011, a nationally representative, population-based cross-sectional study. A two-stage stratified sampling method was used to select a representative sample of Malaysian adults aged 16 years and above.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 19,145 adults aged 16 years and above were recruited, and face-to-face interviews were conducted using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), short version. The correlates for physical activity were identified using multivariate analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this study, 64.3% (95%CI: 63.1-65.5) of Malaysian adults aged 16 and above were physically active, but overall physical activity levels decreased with advancing age. Men, rural residents, 'other' ethnic groups, and married women were more likely to demonstrate higher levels of physical activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Approximately 65% of Malaysian adults were physically active. However, it is recommended that health promotions for active lifestyles should be targeted to the least active segments, which constitute more than a quarter of the Malaysian population.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Public Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan Bangsar, 50590 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Electronic address: chienhuey@moh.gov.my.
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Teh
authors.affiliation: Institute for Public Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan Bangsar, 50590 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Institute for Public Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan Bangsar, 50590 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Y Y
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Institute for Public Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan Bangsar, 50590 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Institute for Public Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan Bangsar, 50590 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Azahadi
authors.affiliation: Institute for Public Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan Bangsar, 50590 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Hamizatul Akmar
authors.affiliation: Institute for Public Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan Bangsar, 50590 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ummi Nadiah
authors.affiliation: Institute for Public Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan Bangsar, 50590 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Syafinaz
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Research, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan Pahang, 50588 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Kee
authors.affiliation: Institute for Public Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan Bangsar, 50590 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Yeo
authors.affiliation: Institute for Public Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan Bangsar, 50590 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fadhli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D055686:Metabolic Equivalent; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012494:Sampling Studies; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Correlates; IPAQ; Malaysian adults; Physical activity; Sociodemographic