Lee Jong-Hyeon, Yoon Yong-Jin
Department of Sports Industry Studies, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-Ro, Seodaemun-Gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea.
BMC Public Health. 2025 Sep 1;25(1):2988. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-23998-1.
This study aimed to explore the association between physical activity (PA) levels and major health issues (obesity, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus) and mental health factors (depression, stress, suicidal thoughts, and cognitive impairment) among South Korean baby boomers (BBs) to help improve national health policies. Given the global trend of aging populations and the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases, understanding the role of PA in promoting healthy aging has become a critical public health issue not only in South Korea but also worldwide.
Using 2022 Community Health Survey data, we analysed PA levels (low, moderate, and high) and their associations with health outcomes in BBs aged 59-67 years. PA was assessed using the metabolic equivalent of task of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Health outcomes were evaluated based on obesity, hypertension, diabetes, mental health issues, and stress levels. Complex sample logistic regression was used to evaluate the interrelation between PA and health outcomes, adjusting for household income, marital status, and educational level.
In men, moderate and high-intensity PA was associated with lower obesity and diabetes rates compared with low-intensity PA, with only moderate PA levels showing consistent links to reduced obesity. In women, both moderate and high PA levels were associated with reduced obesity, hypertension, and diabetes rates. For mental health, PA at both levels was associated with lower odds of all outcomes in both sexes, with moderate PA showing stronger associations than high PA for stress, suicidal thoughts, and cognitive impairment in women.
PA is meaningfully associated with health issues and mental well-being among South Korean BBs. These findings underscore the relevance of tailored PA recommendations and community-based strategies that reflect population characteristics. Further research is warranted to explore the effects of different types of physical activities and their impact on health risk factors.
本研究旨在探讨韩国婴儿潮一代（BBs）的身体活动（PA）水平与主要健康问题（肥胖、高血压和糖尿病）以及心理健康因素（抑郁、压力、自杀念头和认知障碍）之间的关联，以帮助改进国家卫生政策。鉴于全球人口老龄化趋势以及非传染性疾病负担的增加，了解PA在促进健康老龄化中的作用已成为一个关键的公共卫生问题，不仅在韩国，在全球范围内亦是如此。
我们使用2022年社区健康调查数据，分析了59至67岁BBs的PA水平（低、中、高）及其与健康结果的关联。PA通过国际身体活动问卷的代谢当量任务进行评估。基于肥胖、高血压、糖尿病、心理健康问题和压力水平对健康结果进行评估。采用复杂样本逻辑回归来评估PA与健康结果之间的相互关系，并对家庭收入、婚姻状况和教育水平进行了调整。
在男性中，与低强度PA相比，中等强度和高强度PA与较低的肥胖和糖尿病发生率相关，只有中等PA水平与肥胖率降低存在一致的关联。在女性中，中等强度和高强度PA水平均与肥胖、高血压和糖尿病发生率降低相关。对于心理健康，两个水平的PA都与两性所有结果的较低几率相关，在女性中，中等强度PA对压力、自杀念头和认知障碍的关联比高强度PA更强。
PA与韩国BBs的健康问题和心理健康存在显著关联。这些发现强调了反映人群特征的量身定制的PA建议和基于社区的策略的相关性。有必要进一步研究不同类型体育活动的效果及其对健康风险因素的影响。
