The epidemiology of muscle-strengthening and aerobic physical activity guideline adherence among 24,016 German adults

Despite the 2016 German National Recommendations for Physical Activity and Physical Activity Promotion stating that adults (>= 18 years) should engage in: [a] >= 150 minutes of aerobic moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity/week (MVPA); and [b] >= 2 days/week of muscle-strengthening exercise (MSE), there is limited research on the descriptive epidemiology on the adherence to these guidelines among German adults. This study describes the prevalence and correlates of physical activity guideline adherence among a nationally representative sample of German adults. Data were drawn from the 2014 German Health Update survey, collected via a combination of web-based and mail surveys. Self-reported physical activity levels were assessed using the previously validated European Health Interview Survey Physical Activity Questionnaire. Weighted prevalence levels of the sample meeting the aerobic MVPA (>= 150 minutes/week), MSE (>= 2 times/week), and combined MVPA-MSE guidelines were calculated. Poisson regressions were used to assess prevalence ratios for physical activity guideline adherence categories across sociodemographic and lifestyle-related variables. Out of 24,016 participants (response rate = 27.6%), aged >= 18 years, 45.3% (95% CI: 44.5%-46.0%), 29.4% (95% CI: 28.7%-30.1%), and 22.6% (95% CI: 21.9%-23.2%) met the aerobic MVPA, MSE, and combined guidelines, respectively. Population sub-groups less likely to meet the combined guidelines included those with poor self-rated health, being unemployed, low socioeconomic status, being a current smoker, and those being overweight or obese. Since similar to 80% of German adults do not meet the nationally recommended combined aerobic MVPA-MSE physical activity guidelines, there is a necessity for large-scale public health interventions promoting both aerobic MVPA and MSE.

Automated summary

This study investigated adherence to physical activity guidelines among German adults and found that less than one quarter of the population met both aerobic and muscle-strengthening exercise recommendations. Sub-groups less likely to meet these combined guidelines included individuals with poor self-rated health, unemployed, of low socioeconomic status, smokers, and overweight or obese individuals. Public health interventions promoting both aerobic and muscle-strengthening exercises are necessary for the majority of German adults who do not meet the recommended physical activity guidelines.