Estimated and forecasted trends in domain specific time-use and energy expenditure among adults in Russia

International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity Estimated and forecasted trends in domain specific time-use and energy expenditure among adults in Russia Tracy Dearth-Wesley 0 Barry M Popkin 0 Shu Wen Ng 0 0 Department of Nutrition and Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill, NC , USA Background: Examination of historical trends and projections in estimated energy expenditure in Russia is important given the country's economic downturns and growth. Methods: Nationally representative data from the Russia Longitudinal Monitoring Survey (RLMS) from 1995-2011 was used to determine the metabolic equivalents of task (MET)-hours per week from occupational, domestic, travel, and active leisure physical activity (PA) domains, as well as sedentary leisure time (hours per week) among adults 18-60 years. Additionally, we projected what these values would be like in 2020 and 2030 if observed trends continue. Results: Among male adults, the largest contributor to total PA was occupational PA followed by travel PA. In contrast, domestic PA followed by occupational PA contributed most to total PA among female adults. Total PA was 282.9 MET-hours per week in 1995 and declined to 231.7 in 2011. Total PA is projected to decrease to 216.5 MET-hours per week in 2020 and to 193.0 MET-hours per week in 2030. The greatest relative declines are occurring in travel PA. Female adults are also exhibiting significant declines in domestic PA. Changes in occupational and active leisure PA are less distinct. Conclusions: Policies and initiatives are needed to counteract the long-term decline of overall physical activity linked with a modernizing lifestyle and economy among Russian adults. Physical activity; Time-use; Sedentary; Active transport; Movement; Russia - Background Initiatives designed to reduce the global burden of overweight and obesity require understanding of environmental and individual factors affecting dietary and physical activity (PA) patterns and monitoring of these patterns over time and across countries [1-4]. With respect to PA, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) enable surveillance of PA and international comparisons [5-7]. More rigorous examination of PA, such as more detailed time allocation and energy expenditure in domainspecific activities, can be achieved through utilization of longitudinal and cross-sectional country-specific datasets [8-12]. Past analyses of country-specific data from the United States, the United Kingdom, China, Brazil and India have described historical trends in estimated average energy expenditure in four domains of activity (occupation, domestic production, travel and active leisure) and sedentary time in adults, and also projected changes in energy expenditure in these domains and sedentary time for 2020 and 2030 [9]. Extension of this research on historical trends and projections in energy expenditure to include Russia, a country that ranks 9th in the world by population (~143 million people) [13], would strengthen the research base for more thorough international PA comparisons and contribute to more effective domain-specific initiatives [9]. Examination of historical trends and projections in estimated energy expenditure in Russia is additionally important given the countrys economic downturns and growth. The Russian economy suffered a major depression in the early to mid-1990s, with a brief recovery in 19967, only to face a serious financial crisis in 1998. Following this crisis, the economy recovered for the next 10 years, posting gross domestic product growth ranging from 4.7 to 10.0% [14,15]. After a smaller recession in 20082009, the economy is recovering [16]. While some research has looked at the impact of these economic transitions on dietary patterns [17-19], less is known about how these transitions influenced PA across the domains and what can be expected in the next 1020 years. PA projections not only provide valuable insight into potential PA patterns if no actions are taken but also help prioritize the development and implementation of domain-specific PA initiatives. Particular focus on understanding how these economic transitions influence occupational PA is key, given occupational PA is a primary contributor to total PA [9]. Additionally, the Russian dataset includes occupational data that measures both the time and intensity of occupational activities (e.g., time spent in a usual workday doing moderate physical effort while standing or in movement), thus providing a unique opportunity to compare three distinct approaches for determining metabolic equivalents of task (MET) values for occupational PA. While the first approach involves assigning MET values to occupations or occupational categories using the Compendium of Physical Activities [20], the second and third approaches utilize different measures of time and intensity from occupational activities to determine MET values for occupational categories. Comparison of these approaches would yield methodological evidence important for determining a robust approach for measuring occupational PA. There have been limited analyses of child PA patterns in Russia, and little research has been conducted on adults [21,22]. Using cross-sectional data from the nationally representative Russia Longitudinal Monitoring Survey (RLMS), we examined PA patterns in male and female adults (1860 years) over a 16-year time period (1995 to 2011). PA patterns included 4 activity domains (occupation, domestic production, travel, and active leisure) and sedentary time. Our primary study objectives were to (1) compare three approaches for determining MET values for occupational PA, (2) estimate average energy expenditure for the activity domains and sedentary time and look at changes over time, and (3) forecast estimated average energy expenditure for PA domains in 2020 and 2030. Methods Data The RLMS is a de-identified publicly available data source that includes a series of nationally representative, household-based surveys developed to examine the effects of Russian reforms on the health and economic well-being of households and individuals in the Russian Federation [23-26]. A multi-stage probability sample was used. While the RLMS was not specifically designed to examine PA, participants were asked to report on the frequency and duration of various activities across occupation, domestic production, travel, active leisure, and sedentary domains. Some Rounds of the RLMS also asked about the intensity of occupational activities. Data from RLMS Rounds 6 to 20 were analyzed, spanning a 16-year time period including surveys conducted in 1995, 1996, 1998, and 20002011. The number of sampled households was approximately 4,000 for Rounds 6 to 18 (19952008) and increased to approximately 6,000 for Rounds 19 and 20 (20102011). Estimating average energy expen (...truncated)