TY - JOUR T1 - Comparative analysis of reported physical activity from leisure centres’ members versus the general population in Spain JF - BMJ Open JO - BMJ Open DO - 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-043963 VL - 11 IS - 6 SP - e043963 AU - Jorge López Fernández AU - Alejandro López-Valenciano AU - Xián Mayo AU - Elizabeth Horton AU - Ivan Clavel AU - Gary Liguori AU - Alfonso Jiménez Y1 - 2021/06/01 UR - http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/6/e043963.abstract N2 - Objectives (1) To describe the physical activity (PA) levels of the members of a Spanish leisure centre operator according to age and gender; (2) to describe the differences in the three PA levels between the members of a Spanish leisure centre operator and the general Spanish population considering the PA Eurobarometer data according to their gender and age and (3) to explore the intensity origin of the PA either in Spanish members of leisure centres or the Spanish population considering their gender.Design Descriptive epidemiology study.Participants Data from 16 Spanish leisure centres (n=3627) and from the 2017 Eurobarometer 472 for Spain (n=1002) were used for this research.Primary and secondary outcomes measures The PA levels were analysed with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire short version, and respondents were grouped into physical inactivity (PIA), moderate-PA and high-PA. Moreover, gender (men or women) and age (18–29 years; 30–44 years; 45–59 years; 60–69 years; ≥70 years) were considered. Total metabolic equivalent (MET)-min/week, as well as total MET-min/week for walking intensity, moderate intensity and vigorous intensity were recorded.Results Leisure centres showed a lower prevalence of PIA and a higher prevalence of high-PA than the general population (p<0.05). Women displayed a higher prevalence of PIA and lower prevalence of high-PA than men (p<0.05). The prevalence of PIA increases with age while the prevalence of high-PA decreases.Conclusion Leisure centres engage most of their members in regular PA, including women and older adults, and these members also perform a higher number of MET in vigorous PA, than the general population.Data are available in a public, open access repository. Data are available upon reasonable request. The raw data of the Eurobarometer 472 is owned by the European Commission and available online: https://dbk.gesis.org/dbksearch/sdesc2.asp?no=6939&search=Physicalfitnessandexercise&search2=&field=all&field2=&DB=e&tab=0&notabs=&nf=1&af=&ll=10. The raw data from the Spanish fitness centre operator is owned by GO fit-Ingesport Health & Spa Consulting SA. To request access to this data contact to the corresponding author. ER -