Key result
Of 5,820 Korean adults, 66.0% did not meet any physical activity guidelines, with lower participation observed among socially underprivileged individuals and those with poor physical or mental health.
Why the study?
This study investigated physical activity participation based on demographic, physical, and psychological variables in Korean adults.
Cross-Sectional (n=5,820)
Most Korean adults do not meet physical activity guidelines, with lower participation observed among those who are socially underprivileged or have poor physical and mental health.
Highlights disparities warranting targeted public health focus; hypothesis-generating for causal pathways and needs prospective studies.
OBJECTIVES: This study investigated physical activity (PA) participation based on demographic, physical, and psychological variables in Korean adults. METHODS: Participants were divided into four groups (combined, aerobic only, resistance only, and neither) based on meeting the PA guidelines using moderate and vigorous PA time and resistance exercise frequency from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017. The association between meeting the PA guidelines and demographic, medical, fitness, lifestyle, and psychological variables were analyzed using complex samples crosstabs and a general linear model. RESULTS: Of the 5,820 Korean adults, 66.0% did not meet any of the guidelines. Among demographic factors, sex, age, marital status, income, education level, occupation, and employment status were associated with meeting the PA guidelines. Chronic disease prevalence, weight, waist circumference, body mass index, diastolic blood pressure, glucose, high-density lipoprotein and triglyceride levels, hand-grip strength, resting heart rate, and family history of chronic disease in the medical and fitness variables; frequency of drinking and eating breakfast, total calorie, water, protein, and fat intake in the lifestyle variables; and perceived stress, depression, suicidal thoughts, and quality of life in the psychological variables were associated with meeting PA guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: Most Korean adults participate in insufficient PA. Moreover, individuals who are socially underprivileged, have low-income or poor physical and mental health conditions participated in relatively less PA. Our findings suggest that government and individual efforts are required to increase PA and resolve health inequality in Korean adults.
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Ki‐Yong An (2019) conducted a cross-sectional in Physical inactivity (n=5,820). Socio-demographic, medical, lifestyle, and psychological factors was evaluated on Proportion of participants meeting neither aerobic nor resistance physical activity guidelines. Of 5,820 Korean adults, 66.0% did not meet any physical activity guidelines, with lower participation observed among socially underprivileged individuals and those with poor physical or mental health.