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Differences in Accelerometer-Measured Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Between Middle-Aged Men and Women in
Shiho Amagasa1,2,3, Shigeru Inoue2, Ai Shibata4
1Graduate School of Public Health, Teikyo UniversityTokyo,Japan.
Journal of Physical Activity & Health
|July 27, 2022
Summary
Japanese middle-aged women engage in more light physical activity (PA) than men, leading to higher overall PA volume. This highlights the importance of considering light PA for a comprehensive understanding of women's activity levels.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Kinesiology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Limited data exists on gender differences in sedentary behavior and physical activity (PA) intensity.
- Understanding these differences is crucial for public health initiatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine gender differences in time-use activity composition.
- To compare total physical activity volume between men and women.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 757 middle-aged Japanese adults (40-64 years).
- Objective measurement of physical activity using accelerometers for 7 consecutive days.
- Compositional data analysis used to examine gender differences in activity time use.
Main Results:
- Women spent 12.6% less time sedentary and 23.4% more time in light-intensity PA than men.
- No significant gender difference was observed in moderate to vigorous PA.
- Women accumulated significantly more PA volume (17.8 MET-h/d) than men (15.0 MET-h/d).
Conclusions:
- Japanese middle-aged women exhibit higher PA levels due to increased light-intensity activity.
- Focusing solely on moderate to vigorous PA may underestimate women's overall physical activity participation.
