Socioeconomic Inequalities in Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour among the Chilean Population: A Systematic Review of Observational Studies

María Jesús Vega-Salas*, Paola Caro Osorio, Laura Johnson, Miranda E G Armstrong, Angeliki Papadaki

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle (Academic Journal)peer-review

13 Citations (Scopus)
102 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Abstract: Socioeconomic inequalities in physical (in)activity and sedentary behaviours are key mediators in obesity and health socioeconomic inequalities. Considering the high and uneven obesity rates in Chile, this review aims to systematically assess the socioeconomic inequalities in physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour (SB) among the Chilean population from different age groups. Peer-reviewed and grey literature were searched from inception until 31st December 2019 in PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, Web of Sciences and LILACS. Publications in English and Spanish, from observational studies that reported the comparison of at least one indicator of PA or SB between at least two groups of different socioeconomic positions (SEP), from the general Chilean population, were included. Data searches, screening, extraction, and quality assessment, using the Newcastle Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale for observational studies, were conducted by two independent researchers. Seventeen articles (from 16 studies) met the inclusion criteria (14 cross-sectional; two cohort). Across these, quality was considered low, medium and high for 19%, 69% and 13%, respectively. Results showed consistent evidence for a lower leisure-time PA and sitting time, and higher physical inactivity among adults from the lower, compared to the highest, SEP groups. Associations between SEP and total PA, moderate-to-vigorous PA, low PA, and transport and work-related PA were inconsistent. These findings provide insights to public health and physical activity researchers and policymakers aiming to reduce socioeconomic inequalities in PA and SB in Chile and other countries.
Original languageEnglish
Article number9722
Number of pages16
JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume18
Issue number18
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Sept 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Funding: This research was supported by Becas Chile (grant 72180499:2017; studentship to M.J.VS). Becas Chile had no role in the design, analysis or writing of this article.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Research Groups and Themes

  • SPS Exercise, Nutrition and Health Sciences

Keywords

  • physical activity
  • sedentary behavior
  • Socioeconomic inequalities
  • obesity inequalities
  • systematic review

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