Epidemiol Health.  2019;41:e2019047. 10.4178/epih.e2019047.

Physical activity level in Korean adults: the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017

• An KY

• KMID: 2469449
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2019047

Abstract

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.

Keyword

Exercise; Health equity; Sedentary behavior; Health; Adult

MeSH Terms

Adult*
Blood Pressure
Body Mass Index
Breakfast
Chronic Disease
Demography
Depression
Drinking
Eating
Education
Employment
Glucose
Health Equity
Heart Rate
Humans
Korea*
Life Style
Linear Models
Lipoproteins
Marital Status
Mental Health
Motor Activity*
Nutrition Surveys*
Occupations
Prevalence
Quality of Life
Socioeconomic Factors
Triglycerides
Waist Circumference
Water
Glucose
Lipoproteins
Water