Factors affecting exercise behaviour among Thai people
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59096/wesr.v56i10.5653Keywords:
health behavior, physical activity, exercise, health determinants, Thai population, noncommunicable diseasesAbstract
Introduction: Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) constitute the primary cause of mortality in Thailand, while adequate physical exercise can prevent NCDs. The World Health Organization identifies physical inactivity as the leading risk factor for global mortality. Previous studies examining determinants of exercise behavior among Thai populations remain insufficient. This study aimed to analyze determinants of exercise behavior among Thai populations, encompassing demographic, socioeconomic, and health status factors influencing the probability of adequate exercise engagement and weekly exercise duration.
Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted utilizing secondary data from the 2021 Thai Population Health Behavior Survey, encompassing 86,101 individuals aged 15 years and above. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was employed to identify factors associated with adequate exercise, while multivariable linear regression analysis examined determinants affecting weekly exercise minutes. Data analysis was performed using Stata 18 software with statistical significance set at p < 0.05.
Results: Thai populations demonstrated adequate exercise prevalence of 63.94% (95% Confidence interval [CI]: 63.62–64.27). However, the mean of weekly exercise duration is only 47.99 minutes (95% CI: 46.42–49.57), below WHO recommendations of at least 150 minutes. Factors positively associated with adequate exercise included male gender (Adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.05, 95% CI: 1.85–2.28), municipal residence (aOR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.29–1.53), bachelor's degree or higher education (aOR = 1.86, 95% CI: 1.66–2.10), increased socioeconomic wealth index (aOR = 1.23, 95% CI: 1.18–1.27), nutritional food selection behavior (aOR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.34–1.66), and hyperlipidemia (aOR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.06–1.44). Conversely, factors demonstrating negative associations comprised married status with cohabitation (aOR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.67–0.81), smoking behavior (aOR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.69–0.90), increasing age (aOR = 0.98, 95% CI: 0.97–0.98), elevated BMI (aOR = 0.98, 95% CI: 0.97–0.99), and osteoarthritis (aOR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.62–0.93).
Discussion and Recommendation: Despite Thai populations exceeding WHO exercise targets, average exercise duration remains suboptimal, indicating the necessity for developing targeted policy interventions for high-risk populations, particularly women, elderly individuals, those with lower educational and socioeconomic status, smokers, and chronic disease patients. Therefore, developing specific targeted policies and integrating exercise promotion measures into healthcare systems and multi-level public policies represents a crucial strategy for reducing non-communicable disease burden and enhancing health capacity among Thai populations.
References
Bull FC, Al-Ansari SS, Biddle S, Borodulin K, Buman MP, Cardon G, et al. World Health Organization 2020 guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour. Br J Sports Med [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2022 Jul 12]; 54(24): 1451–62. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2020-102955
Warburton DER, Bredin SSD. Health benefits of physical activity: a systematic review of current systematic reviews. Curr Opin Cardiol [Internet]. 2017 [cited 2022 Jul 12]; 32(5): 541–56. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1097/HCO.0000000000000437
Lee IM, Shiroma EJ, Lobelo F, Puska P, Blair SN, Katzmarzyk PT, et al. Effect of physical inactivity on major non-communicable diseases worldwide: an analysis of burden of disease and life expectancy. Lancet [Internet]. 2012 [cited 2022 Jul 12]; 380(9838): 219–29.
Granero-Jiménez J, López-Rodríguez MM, Dobarrio-Sanz I, Cortés-Rodríguez AE. Influence of physical exercise on psychological well-being of young adults: A quantitative study. Int J Environ Res Public Health [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2024 Sep 14];19(7): 4282. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19074282
World Health Organization. Global status report on noncommunicable diseases 2014. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2014.
Allen L, Williams J, Townsend N, Mikkelsen B, Roberts N, Foster C, et al. Socioeconomic status and non-communicable disease behavioural risk factors in low-income and lower-middle-income countries: a systematic review. Lancet Glob Health [Internet]. 2017 [cited 2022 Jul 12]; 5(3): e277–89.
World Bank. The growing danger of non-communicable diseases: acting now to reverse course. Washington, DC: World Bank; 2011 [cited 2022 Jul 12]. Available from: http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2011/09/15512807/growing-danger-non-communicable-diseases-acting-now-reverse-course
Department of Disease Control (TH), Division of Non-Communication Disease. Annual report 2023 [Internet]. Bangkok: Aksorn Graphic and Design; 2023 [cited 2024 Sep 14]. Available from: https://www.ddc.moph.go.th/uploads/publish/1544220240312071253.pdf (in Thai)
Thailand Physical Activity Knowledge Development Centre (TPAK). Physical activity and sedentary behavior among THAI people, 2012-2023 [Internet]. Nakorn Pathom: Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University; 2024 [cited 2024 Sep 14]. Available from: https://tpak.or.th/th/iframe/2 (in Thai)
Bauman AE, Reis RS, Sallis JF, Wells JC, Loos RJ, Martin BW, et al. Correlates of physical activity: why are some people physically active and others not? Lancet [Internet]. 2012 [cited 2022 Jul 12]; 380(9838): 258–71. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60735-1
Carrasco C, Mendes F, Bravo J, Pereira C, Tomas-Carus P. Factors influencing physical activity: a cross-sectional study of the community-dwelling older adults in a Portuguese rural area. Int J Older People Nurs [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2024 Sep 14]; 16(3): e12371. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/opn.12371
Choi J, Lee M, Lee JK, Kang D, Choi JY. Correlates associated with participation in physical activity among adults: a systematic review of reviews and update. BMC Public Health [Internet]. 2017 [cited 2022 Jul 12]; 17: 356. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-017-4255-2
Trost SG, Owen N, Bauman AE, Sallis JF, Brown W. Correlates of adults' participation in physical activity: review and update. Med Sci Sports Exerc [Internet]. 2002 [cited 2022 Jul 12];34 (12):1996-2001. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1097/00005768-200212000-00020
Seefeldt V, Malina RM, Clark MA. Factors affecting levels of physical activity in adults. Sports Med [Internet]. 2002 [cited 2022 Jul 12]; 32(3): 143–68. Available from: https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200232030-00001
McNeill LH, Kreuter MW, Subramanian SV. Social environment and physical activity: a review of concepts and evidence. Soc Sci Med [Internet]. 2006 [cited 2022 Jul 12]; 63(4): 1011–22. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2006.03.012
Sallis JF, Cervero RB, Ascher W, Henderson KA, Kraft MK, Kerr J. An ecological approach to creating active living communities. Annu Rev Public Health [Internet]. 2006 [cited 2022 Jul 12]; 27: 297–322. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.publhealth.27.021405.102100
Collado-Mateo D, Lavín-Pérez AM, Peñacoba C, Del Coso J, Leyton-Román M, Luque-Casado A, et al. Key factors associated with adherence to physical exercise in patients with chronic diseases and older adults: an umbrella review. Int J Environ Res Public Health [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2022 Jul 12]; 18(4): 2023. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18042023
Liangruenrom N, Suttikasem K, Craike M, Bennie JA, Biddle SJH, Pedisic Z. Physical activity and sedentary behaviour research in Thailand: a systematic scoping review. BMC Public Health [Internet]. 2018 [cited 2022 Jul 12]; 18(1): 733. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-5643-5
Topothai T, Chandrasiri O, Liangruenrom N, Tangcharoensathien V. Renewing commitments to physical activity targets in Thailand. Lancet [Internet]. 2016 [cited 2022 Jul 12]; 388(10051): 1258–60. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(16)31598-2
World Health Organization. Global action plan on physical activity 2018–2030: more active people for a healthier world [Internet]. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2018 [cited 2024 Sep 14]. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241514187
National Statistical Office (TH). Health behavior of population survey 2021 [Internet]. Bangkok: National Statistical Office; [cited 2022 Jul 12]. Available from: https://www.nso.go.th/nsoweb/storage/survey_detail/2023/20230505110449_84709.pdf (in Thai)
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Weekly Epidemiological Surveillance Report
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Responsibility and Copyright
1. Author Responsibility and Editorial Disagreement
The content and data in all articles published in WESR are the direct opinions and responsibility of the article authors, and the Journal's Editorial Board is not necessarily in agreement with, or jointly responsible for, them.
2. Copyright and Referencing
All articles, data, content, figures, etc., published in WESR are considered the copyright of the academic journal. If any individual or entity wishes to disseminate all or any part of the published material, appropriate citation of the article is required.
