OBJECTIVETo understand the prevalence of participation in leisure-time physical activity, and sedentary behaviors among Chinese adults.

METHODSData from Chinese Chronic Disease Surveillance (2010) was used. Among adults aged 18 years old and over, the information on frequency and duration of occupational activity, house chores, commuting and leisure time activity was collected by an interview with Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ). The time spent on watching TV, reading, using computers or playing games after work was also surveyed. This present study only analyzed the percentage of participating in leisure time moderate or vigorous intensity physical activity at least 10 minutes three days per week and the time spent on TV, reading, using computer and playing games during after hours among Chinese adults of 98 649 subjects.

RESULTS11.9% (95%CI: 10.5% - 13.3%) of all adults took part in leisure time moderate or vigorous intensity physical activity at least 10 minutes for three days per week, with-group the percentage highest among age-group 18 - 24 (15.6%, 95%CI: 10.5% - 13.3%) and lowest among age 25 - 34 (9.9%, 95%CI: 8.0% - 11.7%) and 75 years old and over (9.9%, 95%CI: 8.2% - 11.6%) (P < 0.01). The age related change showed a double-peak curve. The percentage was higher in male (13.1%, 95%CI: 11.6% - 14.6%) than in female (10.6%, 95%CI: 9.3% - 12.0%) (P < 0.01). Among the populations engaged in diverse occupations, the lowest percentage was detected among those in farming, forestry, husbandry and fishing (4.2%, 95%CI: 3.4% - 4.9%). Higher percentage was found among the residents lived in urban areas (19.9%, 95%CI: 17.4% - 22.5%) than in rural areas (8.2%, 95%CI: 6.7% - 9.8%) (P < 0.01), and higher in the east area (14.8%, 95%CI: 11.9% - 17.6%) compared to that in central (9.7%, 95%CI: 8.1% - 11.3%) or in west areas (10.3%, 95%CI: 8.4% - 12.3%) in China (P < 0.01). Furthermore, (2.7 ± 2.0) hours per day was spent in sedentary behaviors, such as watching TV, reading, using computers or playing games during after hours. Those aged 18 - 24 years-old spent most time (3.8 ± 2.6) hours per day in sedentary behaviors and the time reduced with age (P < 0.01). More time on Sedentary behaviors were taken by male (2.9 ± 2.1 hours per day) than by female ((2.6 ± 1.9) hours per day) (P < 0.01), with more hours spent in urban ((3.3 ± 2.2) hours per day) than that in rural ((2.5 ± 1.9) hours per day) (P < 0.01). No difference was detected among the residents lived in east ((2.9 ± 2.1) hours per day), central ((2.7 ± 2.0) hours per day) and west area ((2.6 ± 2.0) hours per day) (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe percentage of taking part in moderate and vigorous activity during leisure time was generally low. Average time spent in after hours sedentary behaviors was long.