Trends in low physical activity among adults in Bhutan: Prevalence and correlates of national cross-sectional surveys in 2007, 2014, and 2019

The study of the study was to assess the prevalence and correlates of low physical activity (PA) in people 15 years and older in Bhutan from 2007 to 2019. Cross-sectional data were analysed from 10,411 individuals (15-74 years) who participated in the 2007, 2014 or 2019 Bhutan STEPS surveys, and had complete PA measurement. Self-reported physical activity and health markers were assessed. Overall, 11.8% had low, 16.3% moderate, and 71.8% high PA. In the adjusted logistic regression analysis, compared to participants from 2007, participants from 2014 (Adjusted Odds Ratio-AOR: 0.10, 95% Confidence Interval-CI: 0.08-0.13), and participants from 2019 (AOR: 0.09, 95% CI: 0.07-0.12), had significantly lower odds of low PA. Male sex (AOR: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.52-0.80) decreased the odds and having higher education (AOR: 1.61, 95% CI: 1.11-2.34) increased the odds of low PA. Sedentary behaviour (≥8 hours/day) (AOR: 2.50, 95% CI: 1.61-3.90), having underweight (AOR: 1.89, 95% CI: 1.17-3.04), obesity (AOR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.14-1.77), and having hypertension AOR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.15-1.70) were positively associated with low PA. More than one in ten adults in Bhutan had inadequate PA. Factors associated with low PA included sociodemographic factors (study year 2007, female sex, higher education), sedentary behaviour, underweight, obesity and hypertension, which can be targeted in public health interventions.