Physical activity patterns found to differ by sex and education level

A recent study published in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health reveals that physical activity and sedentary behavior vary significantly by sex and educational level, but less so by the presence of chronic disease. The study, conducted by researchers at Karolinska Institutet, provides important insights into how different populations engage in physical activity and sedentary behavior.

The study found that women and individuals with a high school education engage in 30 minutes more light-intensity physical activity per day, such as casual walking and gardening, compared to men and those with a university education. Interestingly, these same groups also spend around 30 minutes less per day in sedentary activities, like sitting. These patterns were consistent regardless of the presence of chronic disease or multimorbidity (the presence of at least two chronic diseases).

However, the study also highlighted that individuals with four or more chronic diseases are particularly prone to reduced physical activity and increased sedentary behavior.

“These results are important because they identify which populations should be targeted when promoting physical activity and reducing sedentary behavior,” says Callum Regan, Ph.D. Student at the Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society and first author of the study. “It seems that men and people with university education could benefit from health promotion initiatives that encourage movement and limit sitting.

“Health promotion initiatives in the workplace could be a viable option. Likewise, this research can inform health care professionals about who should receive additional support to keep physically active—for instance, people with four or more chronic diseases. This work contributes to tackling the burden of chronic disease and tailoring efforts that promote everyday physical activity.”

Study methodology

The research team conducted a descriptive cross-sectional analysis using data from 27,890 participants from the Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage Study (SCAPIS) cohort. This cohort includes middle-aged men and women from the general adult population in Sweden. Chronic diseases were identified from national registries, while physical activity and sedentary behavior were measured using accelerometers worn on the hip for seven consecutive days.

The researchers compared average times spent in different physical activity intensities and sedentary behavior between people with and without chronic disease or multimorbidity, and further stratified their analyses by sex and education.

Next steps

The researchers plan to further explore differences in physical activity and sedentary behavior between people with and without chronic diseases using self-reported measures of physical activity. These measures will provide information about where physical activity is acquired, such as during leisure, at work, and when commuting. The team also intends to include sociodemographic factors like sex and education in their analyses.

This future work aims to uncover who may benefit the most from increasing physical activity and reducing sedentary behavior, and in which contexts physical activity could be promoted.