These are two sides of the same coin: lack of physical activity and a sedentary lifestyle are two distinct risk factors for many diseases (cardiovascular, metabolic, certain cancers, etc.). And it takes a certain amount of physical activity, in duration and intensity, to compensate for the deleterious effects of a high sedentary lifestyle.
However, less than three quarters of men (72.9%) and a little more than half of women (59.3%) aged 18 to 85 met the activity recommendations of the World Organization in 2021 in mainland France. of health, indicates the study distributed by Public Health France, informed by a periodic survey on knowledge, attitudes and health habits.
Each week at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity, or at least 75 to 150 minutes of sustained-intensity physical activity, or an equivalent combination of moderate or vigorous physical activity, is recommended.
Muscle strengthening is also recommended at least twice a week. A second objective achieved by less than a third of men in France (31.1%) and less than a quarter of women (20.2%), according to the study.
In terms of sedentary lifestyle, more than one in five adults in France reported spending more than seven hours per day sitting and nearly four in ten (39%) more than three hours per day in front of a screen for leisure purposes alone, note the researchers. .
The only good point: more than nine out of ten adults said they get up at least every two hours if they sit for a long time.
– “Reverse” –
Overall, 8.6% of men and 9.9% of women combined insufficient physical activity and a high sedentary lifestyle. “It is therefore imperative to reverse the trend,” urge the authors of the study.
The global picture masks socio-demographic disparities.
In both men and women, age has an impact on levels of physical activity and sedentary lifestyle. A level of diploma below the baccalaureate is also associated, for both, with less achievement of the recommendations.
For men, professional situation plays a role, for example with less physical activity in the event of unemployment; for women, it is living as a couple with children that reduces the probability of reaching the recommendations.
Regional disparities are also strong.
For physical activity, Brittany and Occitanie stand out with a significantly higher frequency at the national level, Île-de-France and the north-east of France much lower.
Despite the growing promotion of healthy sports, the absence of favorable developments, particularly among women, “suggests thinking about the prevention of an active lifestyle in a more systemic way (…) beyond just actions intended to modify individual behavior”, judge the authors of the study.
“Promoting active lifestyles in urban areas, making the environment attractive and dynamic, particularly for young people, and creating alternatives to prolonged sedentary work are all ways of combating the lack of physical activity and increasing sedentary lifestyle,” say -they.
For a sedentary lifestyle, the current French recommendation advises getting up to walk a little every two hours, but recent work has shown the benefits of more frequent breaks from a sedentary lifestyle, particularly from 20 minutes of inactivity, points out the study published by SpF.
“Splitting sedentary time, replacing part of the sitting time with standing, with a few steps or a few movements, or integrating active breaks in all situations of prolonged sedentary time (work, studies) will be beneficial,” explain the researchers.
And if the promotion of physical and sporting activity as a “great national cause” in 2024, the year of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, should “contribute to boosting numerous initiatives”, the authors of the study warn that “the whole challenge will be to include all territories and the population, and to maintain this momentum over time.”
