OBJECTIVETo describe the gender and regional differences in patterns of physical activity and sedentary behavior across 10 study areas through data from the China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB) that involving half a million adults.

METHODSThe baseline survey of CKB took place in 5 urban and 5 rural areas across China during 2004-2008. After excluding those who had a prior history of heart disease, stroke and/or cancer, 486 514 participants (age: 30-79 y) were included in the analyses. MET-h/d was calculated for each one of the participant, based on the type, duration and intensity of self-reported physical activity, along with time spent on sedentary activity. These data were compared, after standardization for age between sex and study areas.

RESULTSThe mean total physical activity was 22.9 MET-h/d among men, 20.6 MET-h/d among women, and the mean sedentary leisure time appeared 3.1 h/d in men and 2.9 h/d in women. In men, the total physical activity ranged from 13.3 MET-h/d in Haikou to 31.3 MET-h/d in Zhejiang, while in women it ranged from 14.7 MET-h/d to 30.2 MET-h/d across the 10 areas. For sedentary leisure time, it ranged from 2.0 h/d in Zhejiang to 3.8 h/d in Sichuan in men and 1.6 h/d to 3.7 h/d in women. In both men and women, occupational physical activities (77.6% and 59.8% respectively) accounted for most of the daily activities, while leisure time physical activities accounted for the least (3.1% in both men and women). Among men, the proportion of occupational physical activity ranged from 86.5% in Zhejiang to 69.4% in Haikou (69.4%), while in women it ranged from 74.8% in Zhejiang to 40.9% in Henan. Gansu (men 17.8%, women 18.1%) reported the highest proportion of transportation physical activities. Among women, areas reporting the highest proportion of physical activity at home would include Henan (54.0%) and Hunan (39.1%), whereas adults in Zhejiang (20.0%) reported the lowest proportion. Among men, Hunan (18.0%) reported the highest proportion of physical activity at home. Compared with rural areas, male and female participants from urban areas tended to have more leisure time for physical activity and less vigorous-intensity physical activity.

CONCLUSIONThe patterns of physical activity and sedentary behavior including the levels of physical activity, domains and intensity of physical activities. Sedentary leisure time appeared all various greatly across different regions in China.