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. 2021 Jun 29;11(6):e043963.
doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-043963.

Comparative analysis of reported physical activity from leisure centres' members versus the general population in Spain

Jorge López Fernández  1   2 , Alejandro López-Valenciano  3 , Xián Mayo  3 , Elizabeth Horton  1 , Ivan Clavel  4 , Gary Liguori  5 , Alfonso Jiménez  6   3   7
Affiliations

Comparative analysis of reported physical activity from leisure centres' members versus the general population in Spain

Jorge López Fernández et al. BMJ Open. .

Abstract

Objectives: (1) To describe the physical activity (PA) levels of the members of a Spanish leisure centre operator according to age and gender; (2) to describe the differences in the three PA levels between the members of a Spanish leisure centre operator and the general Spanish population considering the PA Eurobarometer data according to their gender and age and (3) to explore the intensity origin of the PA either in Spanish members of leisure centres or the Spanish population considering their gender.

Design: Descriptive epidemiology study.

Participants: Data from 16 Spanish leisure centres (n=3627) and from the 2017 Eurobarometer 472 for Spain (n=1002) were used for this research.

Primary and secondary outcomes measures: The PA levels were analysed with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire short version, and respondents were grouped into physical inactivity (PIA), moderate-PA and high-PA. Moreover, gender (men or women) and age (18-29 years; 30-44 years; 45-59 years; 60-69 years; ≥70 years) were considered. Total metabolic equivalent (MET)-min/week, as well as total MET-min/week for walking intensity, moderate intensity and vigorous intensity were recorded.

Results: Leisure centres showed a lower prevalence of PIA and a higher prevalence of high-PA than the general population (p<0.05). Women displayed a higher prevalence of PIA and lower prevalence of high-PA than men (p<0.05). The prevalence of PIA increases with age while the prevalence of high-PA decreases.

Conclusion: Leisure centres engage most of their members in regular PA, including women and older adults, and these members also perform a higher number of MET in vigorous PA, than the general population.

Keywords: physiology; public health; sports medicine.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: JLF acknowledges that his PhD studies have been funded by GO fit-Ingesport. AL-V also acknowledges he is a postdoctoral research fellow funded by GO fit-Ingesport at the Centre for Sports Studies of King Juan Carlos University. AJ acknowledges he serves at a fractional role as Chief Research & Innovation Officer at GO fit-Ingesport.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Average total MET-min/week between the leisure centre and the Eurobarometer for all participants and for men and women separately. ‡ Significantly higher MET-min/week (p<0.05) in the leisure centres regarding the Eurobarometer. & Significantly higher MET-min/week (p<0.05) in men regarding the women. MET: metabolic equivalent.
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