Guidelines for Physical Activity—A Cross-Sectional Study to Assess Their Application in the General Population. Have We Achieved Our Goal?

Stefano Palermi, Anna Maria Sacco, Immacolata Belviso, Veronica Romano, Pietro Montesano, Bruno Corrado and Felice Sirico
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Stefano Palermi: Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
Anna Maria Sacco: Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
Immacolata Belviso: Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
Veronica Romano: Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
Pietro Montesano: Department of Motor Sciences and Wellness, University of Naples Parthenope, 80133 Naples, Italy
Bruno Corrado: Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
Felice Sirico: Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 11, 1-14

Abstract: National and international healthcare organizations propose guidelines for physical activity worldwide, defining its characteristics. These guidelines’ practical applications are difficult to estimate, since they are not fully followed. The aim of the present cross-sectional observational study was to assess awareness about guidelines for physical activity and to evaluate their practical applications in a sample of the Italian population. In total, 310 participants completed an online survey (mean age 29.10 ± 4.44), assessing the habits, beliefs and health effects of physical activity. In total, 39.35% of respondents were inactive. In total, 6.91% of active respondents did not perform a warm-up phase at the beginning of each training session and 77.14% did not check their own heart rate during the training session. Approximately half of respondents reported erroneous beliefs about the type, frequency and volume of physical activity, compared to data proposed by the guidelines. The preventive effect of physical activity was clearly perceived for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, metabolic syndrome and depression. Several subjects misinterpreted the preventive role of physical activity in colon and breast cancers, and in femur and vertebral fractures. Habits and beliefs about physical activity in the general population are far from the guidelines and recommendations. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the conscious practice of physical activity further.

Keywords: guidelines; physical activity; sport; health; prevention (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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