Levels of Physical Activity, Obesity and Related Factors in Young Adults Aged 18–30 During 2009–2017

José Alberto Laredo-Aguilera, Ana Isabel Cobo-Cuenca, Esmeralda Santacruz-Salas, María Manuela Martins, María Aurora Rodríguez-Borrego, Pablo Jesús López-Soto and Juan Manuel Carmona-Torres
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José Alberto Laredo-Aguilera: Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 45600 Talavera de la Reina, 45071 Toledo, Spain
Ana Isabel Cobo-Cuenca: Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 45600 Talavera de la Reina, 45071 Toledo, Spain
Esmeralda Santacruz-Salas: Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 45600 Talavera de la Reina, 45071 Toledo, Spain
María Manuela Martins: Escola Superior de Enfermagem/CINTESIS, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
María Aurora Rodríguez-Borrego: Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), 14004 Córdoba, Spain
Pablo Jesús López-Soto: Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), 14004 Córdoba, Spain
Juan Manuel Carmona-Torres: Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 45600 Talavera de la Reina, 45071 Toledo, Spain

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 20, 1-15

Abstract: The objective of this study was to analyze the temporal trend of physical activity and body mass index in young adults aged 18–30 in Spain and to ascertain their relationship with sociodemographic and psychosocial variables in the period of 2009–2017. Methods: A descriptive study with a sample of 10,061 young adults aged 18–30 years was performed. The data were obtained from the European Health Survey in Spain in 2009 and 2014 and the National Health Survey in 2011/2012 and 2017. The chi-square test was used for qualitative variables, and multiple linear regression analysis was performed for physical activity. Results: Sedentary levels had decreased in 2017 as compared to 2011/2012 ( p < 0.001); smokers were more sedentary than non-smokers ( p < 0.001); men were more active than women ( p < 0.001); and the year with the highest physical activity was 2014. Body mass index in the total sample increased from 2009 to 2017 ( p < 0.01), showing a significant increase in obesity in women ( p < 0.05) and no difference in men ( p ≥ 0.05). Conclusions: In the period 2011/2012–2017, the sedentary lifestyle of young adults was reduced and physical activity was increased, with men being more active than women.

Keywords: young adults; physical activity; obesity; overweight; BMI (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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