Gender differences in physical activity and sport participation in adults across 28 European countries between 2005 and 2022

Objective

There is a lack of understanding of the specific types and intensities of physical activity driving the gender gap in overall levels of physical activity, and how these activities are changing over time. We examined the gender gap in specific types and intensities of physical activities in European adults from 2005 to 2022.

Study design and methods

This repeated cross-sectional study included data from adults from the Eurobarometer (2005–2022) from 28 European countries. Gender differences in meeting physical activity guidelines, sport, walking, moderate, and vigorous activity were examined using prevalence ratios (PR, relative inequalities) and mean differences (MD, absolute differences).

Results

Among 123,809 participants, there was no change in the gender gap in meeting physical activity guidelines from 2005 to 2022 (PR = 1.10; 95 % CIs 1.07, 1.14, PR = 1.04; 95 % CIs 1.01, 1.08, respectively). The gender gap in vigorous intensity activity decreased from 2005 to 2022 (MD = 589; 95 % CIs 545.7, 631.5, MD = 399; 95 % CIs 354.5, 444.3, respectively). The gender gap in moderate activity increased from 2005 to 2022 (MD = 10.9; 95 % CIs − 14.2, 35.9, MD = 104; 95 % CIs 77.8, 130.1, respectively). The gender gap in sport and exercise increased from 2009 to 2022 (PR = 1.14; 95 % CIs 1.10, 1.19; PR = 1.22; 95 % CIs 1.17, 1.27, respectively). There was no gender gap in walking between 2005 and 2022 (MD = -1.4; 95 % CIs − 21.2, 18.4, MD = 12.5; 95 % CIs − 4.9, 29.9, respectively).

Conclusions

Sport remains an underutilized contributor to overall physical activity levels and could be promoted among women to reduce the overall gender gap in physical activity.