Table 3

Objective and self-reported physical activity behaviour (mean (SD)) by gender, age group and language region

TotalSex Age categoryLanguage region
MaleFemalep18–39
years
40–59
years
≥60 yearspGermanFrenchItalianp
Total physical activity

GPAQ (MET-min/week)4197.0 (4583.6)4379.5 (4422.7)4018.6 (4741.2) 0.463898.9 (4596.0)3753.3 (3775.1)5434.4 (5559.3)  0.02 4238.5 (4850.9)3450.1 (4157.9)4587.3 (4573.7) 0.19
GPAQ (min/week in mvpa)852.8 (955.1)856.8 (920.9)848.7 (990.0) 0.94718.6 (888.5)779.4 (840.2)1193.8 (1153.6) <0.001 891.6 (996.8)766.6 (944.3)870.7 (930.5) 0.63
Accelerometer (counts/min)396.7 (140.9)398.8 (139.2)394.6 (142.8) 0.78394.6 (139.2)414.0 (143.9)370.5 (135.6) 0.08389.3 (142.5)370.9 (127.8)417.1 (144.4)  0.04
Accelerometer (min/week in mvpa)300.1 (162.8)310.5 (154.9)290.0 (170.0) 0.24292.7 (149.6)314.6 (160.9)287.4 (185.1) 0.39296.1 (165.4)279.4 (153.7)315.0 (165.3) 0.26
Vigorous activities

GPAQ (min/week)196.5 (312.6)238.0 (307.7)155.9 (312.8)  0.01 256.2 (356.9)158.8 (216.3)164.8 (360.8)  0.02 168.0 (295.4)95.9 (202.8)276.1 (355.4) <0.001
Accelerometer (min/week)35.9 (63.4)41.5 (65.5)30.5 (61.0) 0.1044.4 (62.1)41.5 (70.5)12.8 (45.0) <0.001 25.0 (58.7)20.2 (43.7)53.5 (71.8) <0.001
Moderate activities
GPAQ (min/week)656.3 (840.7)618.8 (814.2)692.9 (866.5) 0.41462.4 (716.6)620.7 (784.1)1029.1 (995.0) <0.001 723.6 (831.3)670.8 (886.1)594.6 (822.6) 0.45
Accelerometer (min/week)264.2 (146.1)269.0 (135.3)259.5 (156.1) 0.54248.3 (126.8)273.1 (139.5)274.6 (181.4) 0.29271.1 (151.3)259.2 (138.7)261.5 (146.8) 0.81
Sitting
GPAQ (hours/week)51.5 (24.5)54.5 (25.1)48.5 (23.6)  0.02 52.9 (25.8)52.9 (23.6)46.8 (23.4) 0.1350.7 (23.9)53.7 (26.1)50.9 (24.1) 0.62
Accelerometer (hours/week)61.8 (8.4)63.7 (8.4)59.8 (8.0) <0.001 63.1 (8.5)61.0 (8.4)60.8 (8.0) 0.0661.4 (9.5)61.1 (7.5)62.3 (8.1) 0.48
  • p-values <0.05 are presented in italics.

  • GPAQ, Global Physical Activity Questionnaire; MET, metabolic equivalent; mvpa, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity.