Abstract
This study aimed to determine the amount of energy expenditure from moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity in 3 domains (occupation, transportation, and recreation), and sedentary behavior of Thai adults disaggregated by subgroups of participants. The data of 113,882 Thai adults aged 15 and above from the 2015 National Health and Welfare Survey conducted by National Statistical Office were analyzed using descriptive statistics and two-part model. The results showed that the average energy expenditure from moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity by 3 domains was 1,728 metabolic equivalent of task-minute/week. The energyexpenditure from work domain was the highest (1,113 MET-minute/week), followed by transportation (286 MET-minute/week), and recreation (230 MET-minute/week), much lower than the results from other international studies. The energy expenditure in sedentary activities was also high at 774 MET-minute/week. The energy expenditure from 3 physical activity domains was higher in males and adults (aged 30-44) living in rural areas including farmers and laborers, and those who had lowest education and income levels, without underlying diseases, and self-reported with lower health problem status. These subgroups with higher energy expenditure from physical activity also reported lower energy spent sedentary. Our findings will benefit to the national policy development on physical activity by transforming energy expenditure in sedentary activities to other physical activity domains. For example, office-based employee spent low energy expenditure from work domain should be encouraged to the standing break or walking every hour of sitting, using stairs instead of elevator, or using public transport, walking or biking to workplace. In addition, we urge for the improvement of national physical activity to be more accurate and conducted continuously.
