Level of engagement of recreational physical activity of urban villagers in Luohu, Shenzhen, China

Physical activity is important for health. However, there is a lack of literature related to the physical activity levels of adults living in urban villagers, which is a vulnerable population in China. The aim of this study is to compare the physical activity and sedentary behavior engagements between urban villagers and non-urban villagers using the 2019 Luohu Shenzhen, China Community Diagnosis Questionnaire. A total of 1205 adults living in urban villages and non-urban villages were included in the analysis. Unadjusted and multiple multivariate logistic regression were conducted for the dependent variable of engagement in recreational physical activity, frequency of recreational physical activity per week, and hours spent in sedentary behaviors per day. Descriptive analysis was conducted to identify the reasons for not engaging in physical activity among urban villagers and non-urban villagers. Across the included sample, 29.05% were urban villagers and 70.95% were non-urban villagers. The results suggested that urban villagers are more likely to engage in physical activity than non-urban villager (OR = 1.90, 95% CI [1.40, 2.59], p < 0.001). However, it was also found that urban village status had no significant association for frequency in engaging in physical activity and average hours spent in sedentary behaviors. Both urban villagers and non-urban villages indicated that lack of time, lack of safe and appropriate environment, and working in labor intensive occupations as some of the reasons for not engaging in physical activity. There is a need for tailed interventions and policies for promoting physical activity among urban villagers and non-urban villagers. Additional studies are needed to further our understanding of the physical activity behaviors among urban villagers in China.