1. Physical Activity Tracking Among Sri Lankan Adults: Findings From a 7-Year Follow-up of the Ragama Health Study.
- Author
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Pinidiyapathirage, Janani, Kasthuriratne, Anuradhani, Bennie, Jason A., Pathmeswaran, Arunasalam, Biddle, Stuart J. H., De Silva, Hithanadura Janaka, Chackrewarthy, Sureka, Dassanayake, Anuradha S., Ranawaka, Udaya, Kato, Norihiro, and Wickremasinghe, Ananda Rajitha
- Subjects
NON-communicable diseases ,CONFIDENCE intervals ,RESEARCH methodology ,CHRONIC diseases ,SELF-evaluation ,INTERVIEWING ,HEALTH status indicators ,PUBLIC health ,PHYSICAL activity ,SOCIOECONOMIC factors ,SEX distribution ,INCOME ,QUESTIONNAIRES ,DESCRIPTIVE statistics ,CHI-squared test ,WAIST circumference ,RESEARCH funding ,STATISTICAL sampling ,DATA analysis software ,ODDS ratio ,EDUCATIONAL attainment ,DISEASE risk factors - Abstract
Limited data are available on physical activity tracking among adults in low- and middle-income countries. Using a longitudinal design, we assessed trends and correlates of physical activity among Sri Lankan adults. Individuals selected through age-stratified random sampling, were screened initially in 2007 (n = 2986) and reevaluated in 2014 (n = 2148). On both occasions, structured interviews and clinical measurements were completed. Approximately 40% of the participants engaged in recommended levels of physical activity both at baseline and follow-up. One-fifth reported increased physical activity at follow-up, a similar proportion reported being persistently inactive or a reduction in physical activity. In the adjusted analysis, being persistently active was associated with male sex, a lower educational level and income, being free of any chronic disease conditions, better self-rated health, and sitting time <8 hours. Our findings support public health interventions to help maintain recommended physical activity levels over time, particularly for subgroups at high-risk of physical inactivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
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