Knowledge of physical activity recommendations in adults employed in England: associations with individual and workplace-related predictors

Research

Emily C. L. Knox^*, Hayley Musson and Emma J. Adams

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  Corresponding author: Emily CL Knox [email protected]

Author Affiliations

British Heart Foundation National Centre for Physical Activity and Health, School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK

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International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2015, 12:69 
doi:10.1186/s12966-015-0231-3

Published: 23 May 2015

Abstract (provisional)

Background Physical activity guidelines state that adults should engage in at least
150 min of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per week to benefit health.
A high proportion of adults in England fail to reach this target. Accurate knowledge
of MVPA guidelines could influence the amount and quality of MVPA engaged in by adults.
This study aimed to determine knowledge of the MVPA guideline within a large sample
of working adults in England and identify individual and workplace-related predictors
of knowledge. Methods 10,992 adults completed an online survey which included questions
on demographics, knowledge of the MVPA guideline and workplace predictors for physical
activity. Multinomial logistic regression identified predictors of underestimating,
overestimating or not knowing the MVPA guideline relative to accurately reporting
the guideline for males and females separately. Results Respondents were 37 % male,
95 % White, 63 % with a degree or higher, and had a mean age of 38.9?±?11 years. The
MVPA guideline was accurately reported by 15 % of adults while 13.8 % overestimated,
8.9 % underestimated and 62.3 % failed to provide any estimate of the guideline. Low
education predicted underestimation (females: OR?=?0.36, 95 % CI 0.17, 0.80) and not
knowing (males: OR?=?0.37, 95 % CI 0.14, 0.96; females: OR?=?0.36, 95 % CI 0.19, 0.69).
Ethnicity was a significant predictor for females only (OR 3.55, 95 % CI 1.46, 8.63;
OR 4.03, 95 % CI 1.58, 10.27; OR 3.73, 95 % CI 1.67, 8.33). Employer support for physical
activity was a significant predictor of accurate knowledge of the MVPA guideline for
both males (underestimation: OR?=?0.63, 95 % CI 0.40, 1.00; ‘don’t know’: OR?=?0.71,
95 % CI 0.51, 1.00) and females (overestimation: OR?=?0.72, 95 % CI 0.53, 0.97; underestimation:
OR?=?0.66, 95 % CI 0.47, 0.92; ‘don’t know’: OR?=?0.60, 95 % CI 0.47, 0.76). Conclusions
Knowledge of the MVPA guideline within working adults in England is low. Employers
should play a role in using targeted strategies to increase knowledge as employer
support-related factors may influence knowledge of the MVPA guideline. Employers who
assert strategies to promote physical activity and encourage employees who have responsibility
for promoting health to educate their colleagues may help improve the MVPA knowledge
of their employees.