Impact of intermittent fasting on physical activity: a national survey of Chinese residents aged 18–80 years

ObjectivesThis study aims to investigate the prevalence of intermittent fasting (IF) among Chinese residents aged 18–80 and assess its impact on physical activity (PA) levels.MethodsData were sourced from the Psychology and Behavior Investigation of Chinese Residents, a nationally representative cro...

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Main Authors: Feiying He, Shiyu Bai, Xiangchun Xu, Jingqiao Miao, Hongwen Yu, Jiale Qiu, Yibo Wu, Yangdong Fan, Lei Shi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Physiology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2025.1582036/full
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author Feiying He
Shiyu Bai
Xiangchun Xu
Jingqiao Miao
Hongwen Yu
Jiale Qiu
Yibo Wu
Yangdong Fan
Lei Shi
author_facet Feiying He
Shiyu Bai
Xiangchun Xu
Jingqiao Miao
Hongwen Yu
Jiale Qiu
Yibo Wu
Yangdong Fan
Lei Shi
author_sort Feiying He
collection DOAJ
description ObjectivesThis study aims to investigate the prevalence of intermittent fasting (IF) among Chinese residents aged 18–80 and assess its impact on physical activity (PA) levels.MethodsData were sourced from the Psychology and Behavior Investigation of Chinese Residents, a nationally representative cross-sectional survey conducted between June 20 and 31 August 2022. A multistage stratified cluster sampling method was used. Propensity score matching (PSM) was applied to compare PA levels between individuals practicing IF and those not practicing it. Multiple logistic regression and subgroup analysis were performed to explore associations between PA levels and relevant factors.ResultsIF was practiced by 9.78% of participants, with the highest prevalence (70.78%) among those aged 18–34. While there were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the IF and non-IF groups, sleep duration differed. IF was significantly associated with reduced PA levels (OR = 0.769, 95%CI: 0.657–0.900), and subgroup analysis highlighted the effect of sleep patterns on PA.ConclusionIF is common among younger Chinese residents and correlates with lower PA levels, indicating a potential need for individualized health guidance to balance dietary strategies with PA.
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issn 1664-042X
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publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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series Frontiers in Physiology
spelling doaj-art-9a74fcf94d644c7db1e7972a3d1033192025-08-20T03:21:46ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physiology1664-042X2025-05-011610.3389/fphys.2025.15820361582036Impact of intermittent fasting on physical activity: a national survey of Chinese residents aged 18–80 yearsFeiying He0Shiyu Bai1Xiangchun Xu2Jingqiao Miao3Hongwen Yu4Jiale Qiu5Yibo Wu6Yangdong Fan7Lei Shi8School of Health Management, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, ChinaSchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, ChinaGuangdong Provincial People’s Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, ChinaSchool of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, ChinaSchool of Stomatology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, ChinaSchool of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, ChinaSchool of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Health Management, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, ChinaSchool of Health Management, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, ChinaObjectivesThis study aims to investigate the prevalence of intermittent fasting (IF) among Chinese residents aged 18–80 and assess its impact on physical activity (PA) levels.MethodsData were sourced from the Psychology and Behavior Investigation of Chinese Residents, a nationally representative cross-sectional survey conducted between June 20 and 31 August 2022. A multistage stratified cluster sampling method was used. Propensity score matching (PSM) was applied to compare PA levels between individuals practicing IF and those not practicing it. Multiple logistic regression and subgroup analysis were performed to explore associations between PA levels and relevant factors.ResultsIF was practiced by 9.78% of participants, with the highest prevalence (70.78%) among those aged 18–34. While there were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the IF and non-IF groups, sleep duration differed. IF was significantly associated with reduced PA levels (OR = 0.769, 95%CI: 0.657–0.900), and subgroup analysis highlighted the effect of sleep patterns on PA.ConclusionIF is common among younger Chinese residents and correlates with lower PA levels, indicating a potential need for individualized health guidance to balance dietary strategies with PA.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2025.1582036/fullintermittent fastingphysical activitymultiple logistic regressionhealth managementChina
spellingShingle Feiying He
Shiyu Bai
Xiangchun Xu
Jingqiao Miao
Hongwen Yu
Jiale Qiu
Yibo Wu
Yangdong Fan
Lei Shi
Impact of intermittent fasting on physical activity: a national survey of Chinese residents aged 18–80 years
Frontiers in Physiology
intermittent fasting
physical activity
multiple logistic regression
health management
China
title Impact of intermittent fasting on physical activity: a national survey of Chinese residents aged 18–80 years
title_full Impact of intermittent fasting on physical activity: a national survey of Chinese residents aged 18–80 years
title_fullStr Impact of intermittent fasting on physical activity: a national survey of Chinese residents aged 18–80 years
title_full_unstemmed Impact of intermittent fasting on physical activity: a national survey of Chinese residents aged 18–80 years
title_short Impact of intermittent fasting on physical activity: a national survey of Chinese residents aged 18–80 years
title_sort impact of intermittent fasting on physical activity a national survey of chinese residents aged 18 80 years
topic intermittent fasting
physical activity
multiple logistic regression
health management
China
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2025.1582036/full
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