Adhering to the 2017 Dutch Physical Activity Guidelines: A Trend over Time 2001–2018

Abstract

Recently, new physical activity (PA) guidelines were adopted in the Netherlands consisting of two components: (1) addressing duration of moderate and vigorous PA, (2) bone and muscle strengthening activities. The aim of this study is to retrospectively assess the long-term trend in fulfilling the criteria of the new PA guidelines and to gain insight into which activities contribute to changes over time. Data were available for 2001–2018 of a nationally representative sample of approximately 7000 Dutch citizens aged 12 years and over using the Short Questionnaire to Assess Health-enhancing physical activity (SQUASH). Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed by age, sex, and level of education. Overall, a positive trend was found from 39.9% adherence in 2001 to 46.0% in 2018. Adherence levels among adolescents decreased and increased among adults and seniors. Intermediate and higher educated groups showed positive trends over time whereas a stable trend was observed among lower educated. Activities contributing most to changes over time were sports, leisure time walking, and strenuous occupational activities. In the period 2001–2018, though an increasing trend was found, less than half of the population was sufficiently active. Special effort is necessary to reach adolescents, seniors, and lower educated groups in PA promotion programs.

The epidemiology of muscle-strengthening exercise in Europe: A 28-country comparison including 280,605 adults

“…The sociodemographic and lifestyle-related correlates of MSE observed in the present study are largely concordant with past research. Similar studies have shown inverse associations between meeting the MSE guideline for age, education/income levels and body mass index [34,36,43,44,47,62]. Moreover, studies have consistently shown that males and students are more likely to meet the MSE guidelines, compared to females and other occupational groups [34,38,43,44].…”

“…Our finding on how MSE is patterned across Europe by degree of urbanisation is similar to our earlier Australian study [38], and suggest that efforts should be made to increase participation levels among those living outside high-density urban/metropolitan settings. Since the sociodemographic and lifestyle-related correlates of MSE are now becoming established [34,36,43,44,47,62], similar to research on the correlates of aerobic MVPA [63,64], we call for more research to assess the potential for a wider range of influences, such as social (behavioural modelling, social norms etc.) and physical environmental factors (access to equipment/facilities etc.).…”

Associations between physical activity types and reaching the physical activity guidelines: The FinHealth 2017 Study

“…5,7 Only in Dutch adults, the prevalence is reported considerably higher. 9 There are large methodological differences between the studies (ie, time frame, frequency/duration/volume/domain) in how PA levels were assessed that prevent direct comparison of the results. In measurement methodology, it remains challenging to assess muscle-strengthening PA in questionnaires, because many PA types can be considered both aerobic and muscle strengthening in nature.…”

“…13,18 Among older Dutch adults, increased time spent walking for leisure was seen as an explanation for the increased proportion reaching the aerobic and muscle-strengthening PA guidelines between 2001 and 2018. 9 In US adults, walking or walking in combination with some other PA type contributed most to adults reaching the aerobic PA guideline in 2000. 21 In our study, the odds ratios for walking in relation to reaching both components of the PA guidelines were strongest in older-aged women and weakest (not significant or even inversely associated) in working-aged women.…”

“…However, as shown among English and Scottish adults who do not reach the aerobic part of the PA guidelines, domestic PA constituted the largest part of their moderate-to vigorous-intensity PA. 13,18 Also, between 2001 and 2018 elderly Dutch adults were reported to spend an increasing time per week in strenuous household chores, which contributed to an increased proportion reaching the PA guidelines in this age-group. 9 Doing some PA is always better than staying sedentary, and therefore, domestic PA types should not be neglected, as they can also serve as a first step to increase PA in highly sedentary persons.…”