ObjectiveTo investigate and analyze the prevalence of leisure time regular physical exercise in adults in Gansu province, analyze the influencing factors and provide a theoretical basis for the improvement of physical exercise in local adults.

MethodsA multi-stage stratified cluster sampling was conducted to select representative sample in Gansu. Aged ≥18 years in 56 townships in 14 cities and counties of Gansu were investigated.

ResultsThe regular physical exercise rate in adults was 14.3% (standardized rate: 13.95%), the rate was 16.0% in men (standardized rate: 16.28%) and 13.0% in women (standardized rate: 12.27%)( χ²=13.789, P<0.05). The rate in urban area (16.2%) was higher than that in rural area (12.3%)( χ²=23.113, P<0.05). The rate was higher in people with light physical labor (22.4%) than in those with heavy physical labor (10.7%)( χ²=183.314, P<0.05). The rate was higher in diabetes patients (20.4%) than in those without diabetes (13.6%)( χ²=25.330, P<0.05). The rate was lower in smoking men (13.9%) than in non-smoking men (18.8%)( χ²=14.274, P<0.05). There was a linear trend increase of the rate with age in urban area and in urban women( χ² = 11.992 and 5.707, all P<0.05). There was a linear trend increase of the rate with the increase of education level in both urban area and rural area( χ² = 107.668 and 263.053, all P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis results showed that urban and rural areas, age, education level, occupation, diabetes status and BMI were the main factors influencing the regular physical exercise in adults in Gansu. Living in rural area was a negative factor. The positive factor for regular physical exercise in men were age, diabetes status, occupation and educational level, and the negative factors were smoking and living in rural area. The influencing factors in women were occupation, education level and age, all were the positive factors.

ConclusionIn Gansu, the regular exercise rate was generally low in adults, especially in people living in rural area, with heavy physical labor and with lower education level. Factors influencing regular physical exercise included living in urban or rural areas, age, educational level, occupation and diabetes status, BMI and smoking. The regular physical exercise rate in adults should be improved, and the intervention should be strengthened for the vulnerable groups.