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A Queensland University of Technology (QUT) study based on data from the United States has revealed that young adults are becoming less active in meeting the recommended 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity a week.

• 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity each week is recommended to maintain health
• Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity allows for conversation while vigorous physical activity precludes it
• Study found men more likely to be physically active than women

The study by David Abernethy and Associate Professor Toby Pavey, from QUT’s School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, with Dr Jason Bennie, from Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network, was published in PLOS One and investigated the physical activity levels of two million American adults between 2011 and 2019.

First author, Abernethy said the researchers saw a steady decline among young adults and noted “while the study used data from the U.S., Australia faces similar physical activity (PA) adherence challenges, which indicates the need for effective, targeted interventions to increase the physical activity levels of our population.

Abernethy advised “this decline among young adults was unexpected, particularly as prior evidence has suggested that increasing age is generally associated with declines in PA.

“A possible explanation for this decline is the increased accessibility and reliance on sedentary behaviours associated with expansion of digital media resulting in decreased PA among young adults.

“An analysis of high school students in the US found that TV screen time had significantly decreased, and other screen time significantly increased between 2007 and 2015.”

Abernethy said ongoing research on physical activity trends and identifying factors contributing to sufficient activity helps to enable understanding of population behaviour shifts, priority areas for intervention and the impact of public health campaigns that promote physical activity.

“In this study, approximately half of US adults reported sufficient moderate-vigorous activity,” he said.

“While any level of PA is beneficial, being able to achieve 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity each week significantly improves well-being and reduces the risk of chronic disease and premature death.

“Moderate-intensity PA allows for conversation, while vigorous-intensity PA causes huffing and puffing, making it harder to talk.”

Professor Pavey said the study corroborated others that had found men were more likely to be physically active than women.

Professor Pavey advised “various explanations have been put forward including that gender norms often prioritise women’s caregiving roles, lack of a female-specific PA culture, and beauty and media standards which cause avoidance of various activities that could promote unwanted muscle which is seen as counter-productive to the commonly promoted slender physique.

“Meeting PA guidelines were more common among males, those with a higher level of education, former and never smokers, a normal BMI and those eating more fruit and vegetables a day, in other words, those who are aware and practice health-giving lifestyles.

“The key priority groups for increasing physical activity this study has identified include:

• Young adults: addressing declines in physical activity after leaving secondary school
• Women: closing the gender gap in physical activity participation
• Lower-educated populations: expanding accessible and inclusive physical activity programs
• People living with obesity: offering low-impact, barrier-free physical activity options.”
• People with chronic disease and mental health conditions: integrating physical activity into healthcare through GP referrals and community programs.”

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