Adherence to physical activity recommendations and its associated factors: an interregional population-based study

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Cardiovascular Disease Prevention

Background:

• Physical activity is crucial for preventing cardiovascular diseases.
• Limited comparative studies exist on adherence to physical activity recommendations and associated factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare physical activity recommendation adherence across three European regions.
• To identify demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral, and health-related factors influencing adherence.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional NESCaV survey of 3133 subjects from Luxembourg, Lorraine (France), and Wallonia (Belgium).
• Utilized the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ).
• Standardized age and gender prevalence rates to the European population.

Main Results:

• Higher likelihood of meeting physical activity recommendations in Luxembourg after adjustments.
• Significantly higher odds of meeting recommendations among those with secondary education compared to tertiary.
• Poor or fair self-perceived health and lower perceived importance of physical activity were associated with lower adherence.

Conclusions:

• Region, education level, self-perceived health, and perceived importance of physical activity are independent determinants of meeting recommendations.
• Raising awareness of physical activity's health benefits is crucial for motivation.
• Further research is needed to explore region-specific factors influencing physical activity behaviors.