Association between health-enhancing physical activity and the social factors, lifestyle and dietary characteristics

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends minimum of 150 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity aerobic physical activity along with at least two sessions of muscle strengthening exercises per week. Compliance with these recommendations is classified as Health Enhancing Physical Activity (HEPA). The aim of this study was to analyze the association between the HEPA and the social factors, lifestyle and dietary characteristics. We conducted the secondary analyses of the data from the Serbian National Health Survey 2019, on 12067 adult participants classified in two groups: with HEPA and without HEPA based on the compliance with the WHO recommendations. Prevalence of HEPA was 3.3% (394/12067). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed positive association between HEPA and male sex (OR: 4.25, 95% CI: 2.68–6.73), average (OR: 3,01, 95% CI: 1.13–8.04), good (OR: 3.10, 95% CI: 1.21–7.94) and very good (OR: 4.64, 95% CI: 1.82–11.84) income quintile being single (OR: 1.85, 95% CI: 1.16–2.95), the number of portions of fruits per day (OR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.09–1.53), the frequency fresh fruit/vegetable juice consumption (OR: 1.20, 95% CI: 1.02–1.40), and being non-smoker (OR: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.03–2.73). There was a negative association between HEPA and age (OR: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.95–0.98), BMI (OR: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.88–1.00), average self-rated health (OR: 0.18, 95% CI: 0.12–0.60), and the frequency of non-alcoholic beverages consumption (OR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.62–0.89). Since only a small percentage of the adult population in Serbia meets the WHO recommendations for physical activity, action is required. This should involve creating future strategies and policies, as well as initiatives focused on education and raising awareness about the importance of physical activity and health.