Physical Activity and Sedentary Lifestyles in the French Population: A Summary of Available Data in 2024

Physical activity (PA) levels among the French population remain low, particularly among women and children, and reflect several social and regional health inequalities: Only 33% of girls and 51% of boys aged 6 to 17 meet the PA recommendations. These percentages vary by gender, age, and the educational level of the household’s primary adult: – girls are less physically active than boys; – the youngest children (ages 6–10) are the most active; – children’s PA levels decline after age 10 (corresponding to the start of middle school); – the proportion of physically active children (meeting PA recommendations) is lower in households with the lowest educational attainment. 53% of women and 71% of men aged 18–74 meet PA recommendations, with significant sociodemographic and regional disparities: – unlike men, the proportion of physically active women (meeting aerobic PA recommendations) decreased between 2006 and 2016; – the proportion of physically active women is thus lower than that of men regardless of age or educational level; – the proportion of physically active men and women is lower among those with the lowest levels of education. Sedentary behaviors are common: 8 out of 10 children spend 2 hours or more per day in front of a screen; – daily screen time is higher among children from households with the lowest levels of education; – the daily time children spend in front of screens increased by more than one hour between 2006 and 2016. 8 out of 10 adults report more than 3 hours of leisure screen time per day, and over 20% spend more than 7 hours sitting per day: – sedentary behavior affects younger adults (ages 18–39) and adults living in high-density urban areas more; – the daily time spent in front of a screen for leisure purposes is higher among adults with the lowest levels of education.

Author(s): Verdot Charlotte, Bouchan Jérôme, Deschamps Valérie

Publishing year: 2024

Pages: 10 p.

Collection: Current State of Knowledge

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