Estimated prevalence of physical inactivity and sedentary behaviour among adults in Bangladesh: nationally representative STEPS survey, 2018

Abstract

Background

Numerous available studies used to prepare the guidelines for preventing physical inactivity and sedentary behaviour are mostly compatible with high-income countries. The guidelines are scarce for low- and middle-income countries, including Bangladesh. Thus, the prevalence of current levels of physical inactivity and sedentary behaviour needed to be determined to produce effective policies and an intervention strategy for Bangladeshi adults.

Methods

This cross-sectional study selected adults using the multi-stage cluster sampling method. A representative sample of 8185 adults aged from 18 to 69 years participated. Physical inactivity levels and sedentary behaviour were assessed using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire.

Results

This study reports baseline information on the physical inactivity level and sedentary behaviour among adults in Bangladesh. Overall, the prevalence of physical inactivity was highest in recreation-related activity (90.5%), followed by vigorous activity (67.5%), transport-related activity (44.7%) and work-related activity (19.9%). Insufficient physical activity at work was significant for all sociodemographic indicators. Adults with significantly high school education, women and the employed were proportionally more prone to sedentary behaviour.

Conclusion

Five out of ten adults (56%) did not meet the WHO recommended level of physical activity. Adequate public health measures should be addressed considering the different forms of physical inactivity.

Keywords:

• Physical inactivity
• sedentary behaviour
• sufficiently active group
• prevalence
• GPAQ
• adults
• WHO

Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to the WHO for allowing us to use their survey dataset and the STEPS country team (National Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine) in Bangladesh for organizing and carrying out the survey.

Ethical approval

As we used secondary sources of data for this study, therefore, ethical approval was not required.

Author contributions

MJK conceived and designed the study, analysed and visualised the data, drafted, and finalised the manuscript. S, BG, MUA, SMMH and SJW critically reviewed the final draft of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

The authors claim explicitly that they do not have any known conflicting financial interests or personal connections with third parties that would give the appearance of influencing the work disclosed in this study.

Data availability statement

Data is publicly available in the WHO website (https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/332886).

Correction Statement

This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

No funding has been received.