Factors Associated With Sex Disparities in Leisure-Time Physical Activity: An Analysis of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2011 to 2021

Ahmed Sayed; Malak Munir; JoAnn E Manson; Mahmoud Al Rifai; Martha Gulati; Carl J Lavie; Salim S Virani

doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2023.01.018

Factors Associated With Sex Disparities in Leisure-Time Physical Activity: An Analysis of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2011 to 2021

Mayo Clin Proc. 2023 Jul;98(7):997-1008. doi: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2023.01.018. Epub 2023 Apr 19.

Authors

Ahmed Sayed¹, Malak Munir¹, JoAnn E Manson², Mahmoud Al Rifai³, Martha Gulati⁴, Carl J Lavie⁵, Salim S Virani⁶

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
² Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
³ Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center, Houston, TX.
⁴ Barbra Streisand Women's Heart Center, Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA.
⁵ Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, John Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute, Ochsner Clinical School-University of Queensland School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA.
⁶ Baylor College of Medicine and Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, TX; The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan. Electronic address: virani@bcm.edu.

PMID: 37074257
DOI: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2023.01.018

Abstract

Objective: To identify whether sex disparities in leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) vary across population subgroups.

Participants and methods: We used data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) spanning 2011 to 2021. We examined subgroups by age, race/ethnicity, income, employment, education, marital status, body mass index, and cardiometabolic comorbidities (diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease) to identify where sex disparities in LTPA are most pronounced.

Results: Among 4,415,992 respondents (57.4% [2,533,234] women and 42.6% [1,882,758] men), women were less likely than men to report LTPA (73.0% vs 76.8%; odds ratio [OR], 0.817; 95% CI, 0.809 to 0.825). The gap was widest between the youngest (OR for the 18- to 24-year age group, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.68 to 0.74) and oldest (OR for the 80 years or older age group, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.69 to 0.73) respondents but was narrower between middle-aged adults (OR for the 50- to 59-year age group, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.93 to 0.97). Disparity was greater among non-Hispanic Black participants (OR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.68 to 0.72) and Hispanic participants (OR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.77 to 0.81) than among non-Hispanic White participants (OR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.84 to 0.86). Disparities were greater at the lowest income levels (OR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.78 to 0.85) and lower at the highest income levels (OR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.91 to 0.96). The disparity was greater in unemployed individuals (OR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.76 to 0.80) compared with employed individuals (OR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.90 to 0.92). Moreover, disparity was greater in individuals with a body mass index in the overweight or obese range and those with diabetes, hypertension, or cardiovascular disease.

Conclusion: Women are less likely than men to engage in LTPA. These disparities are greatest among the young and elderly, Black and Hispanic individuals, lower income and unemployed individuals, and individuals with cardiometabolic disease. Targeted interventions are needed to reduce sex-related disparities.

Published by Elsevier Inc.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
Cardiovascular Diseases*
Exercise
Female
Humans
Hypertension*
Leisure Activities
Male
Middle Aged