Physical activity, sitting time and motivation-to-change: an Italian survey

Purpose: This work aims to study the physical activity levels (PAL), sitting time (SIT), and motivation to change (MTC) in a group of volunteer adults participating in an online survey. Methods: From December 2022 to March 2023, 127 adults (65 men and 62 women, mean age = 40.17 ± 14.83 years), volunteers, were involved in this study, using convenience/availability, sampling. Participants were invited to adhere to an online survey. General information (as health, marital and working status), anthropometric, and self-report questionnaire measures were collected. Data were studied for active/inactive (subjects who referred to practice/do not practice physical activity regularly) and gender subgroups. Finally, the PAL and SIT categories were linked to motivational data. Results: 54.8% of the participants did not report particular pathologies. 38.2% were single, 35% were married, 65% have a job, and 20.3% were students. 52.8% of participants replied that they regularly exercised. 44.4% play physical activity alone (48.6 men vs. 39.3% women), while 27.0% with friends (31.4 men vs. 21.4% women), and 23.8% with a personal trainer or kinesiologist (20.0% men vs. 28.6% women). Differences were observed both in the energy expenditure due to vigorous PA (men 17.7 ± 30.8 MET-h vs. women 9.8 ± 20.4 MET-h) and in total energy expenditure (53.6 ± 50.2 MET-h for men and 35.5 ± 33.9.00 MET-h for women). Regarding SIT, during weekdays (4.4 ± 2.7) and weekends (4.1 ± 2.5), results did not show a difference between gender. Finally, we observe that all the sample presented a high percentage in contemplation status (56.3 ± 28.2), but were observed medium scores also in preparation (53.8 ± 30.3) and maintenance (50.1 ± 38.1) status. A statistically significant difference was observed in the contemplation state (that was more relevant in women, 62 ± 25.7 than in men, 51 ± 29.5). On motivational factors, we find higher average values in men regarding self-efficacy (70.8 ± 20.5 vs. 59.2 ± 23.4), and readiness to change (72.8 ± 22.1 vs. 63.9 ± 24.4). Conclusions: Given the high levels of inactivity and sedentary lifestyle in the general population and the resistance/barriers (including motivational ones) to the practice of regular physical activity, it is necessary to plan campaigns to raise awareness and monitor the lifestyles of the population from the first decades of adulthood, promoting healthy lifestyle education initiatives to control the risk of non- communicable diseases.