Physical activity in the EPIC-Italy centers.

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Public Health
• Lifestyle Medicine

Background:

• Physical activity is crucial for chronic disease prevention.
• Understanding physical activity patterns in diverse populations is essential for public health initiatives.
• The Italian section of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and nutrition (EPIC) study provides a valuable dataset for this research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze physical activity patterns among healthy adults in the Italian EPIC cohort.
• To identify correlations between physical activity levels, occupational demands, and leisure-time activities.
• To inform the development of targeted physical activity promotion programs in Italy.

Main Methods:

• Utilized lifestyle questionnaires from the Italian EPIC study participants.
• Assessed physical activity at work and during leisure time.
• Calculated a physical activity level (PAL) index and an intense activity index, analyzing quintiles to understand subject characteristics distribution.

Main Results:

• The majority of participants (over 50%) reported sedentary occupations, indicating low workplace physical activity.
• Leisure-time activities showed limited compensation for occupational inactivity.
• Walking was the most prevalent leisure-time physical activity, while organized fitness activities were infrequent.

Conclusions:

• Italian adults in the EPIC study generally exhibit low levels of physical activity, particularly in occupational settings.
• Leisure-time physical activity, predominantly walking, does not fully offset sedentary work.
• Findings underscore the need for tailored physical activity interventions considering regional and demographic factors within Italy.