A recent study published in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health reveals that physical activity and sedentary behaviour vary significantly by sex and educational level, but less so by the presence of chronic disease. The study, conducted by researchers at Karolinska Institutet, provides important insights into how different populations engage in physical activity and sedentary behaviour.
The study found that women and individuals with a high school education engage in 30 minutes more light-intensity physical activity per day, such as casual walking and gardening, compared to men and those with a university education. Interestingly, these same groups also spend around 30 minutes less per day in sedentary activities, like sitting. These patterns were consistent regardless of the presence of chronic disease or multimorbidity (the presence of at least two chronic diseases).
However, the study also highlighted that individuals with four or more chronic diseases are particularly prone to reduced physical activity and increased sedentary behaviour.
"These results are important because they identify which populations should be targeted when promoting physical activity and reducing sedentary behaviour," says Callum Regan , PhD Student at the Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society and first author of the study. "It seems that men and people with university education could benefit from health promotion initiatives that encourage movement and limit sitting. Health promotion initiatives in the workplace could be a viable option. Likewise, this research can inform healthcare professionals on who should receive additional support to keep physically active - for instance, people with four or more chronic diseases. This work contributes to tackling the burden of chronic disease and tailoring efforts that promote everyday physical activity."
Study methodology
The research team conducted a descriptive cross-sectional analysis using data from 27,890 participants from the Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage Study (SCAPIS) cohort. This cohort includes middle-aged men and women from the general adult population in Sweden. Chronic diseases were identified from national registries, while physical activity and sedentary behaviour were measured using accelerometers worn on the hip for seven consecutive days. The researchers compared average times spent in different physical activity intensities and sedentary behaviour between people with and without chronic disease or multimorbidity, and further stratified their analyses by sex and education.
Next steps
The researchers plan to further explore differences in physical activity and sedentary behaviour between people with and without chronic diseases using self-reported measures of physical activity. These measures will provide information about where physical activity is acquired, such as during leisure, at work, and when commuting. The team also intends to include sociodemographic factors like sex and education in their analyses. This future work aims to uncover who may benefit the most from increasing physical activity and reducing sedentary behaviour, and in which contexts physical activity could be promoted.
Funding and collaboration
The study was funded by AFA Insurance in Sweden (Dnr 210162) and involved collaboration with several institutions, including the Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation, Sophiahemmet University, University of Gothenburg, Linköping University, Lund University, Umeå University, and Uppsala University.
Publication
Regan C, Hagströmer M, Bergman F, Bäck M, Drake I, Johansson H, Rossen J, von Rosen P
J Phys Act Health 2025 Jun;():1-10
