Chronotype and leisure-time physical activity among civil servants in Japan: a cross-sectional analysis of the Aichi workers’ cohort study

Abstract Background The association between chronotype and leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) remains unclear. We investigated the difference in regular LTPA and for a sufficient duration between those with evening-type (ET) and morning-type chronotypes (MT). Methods We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using the data of the Aichi Workers’ Cohort Study. It included 3,221 men (mean [standard deviation] age: 45.0 [11.6] years) and 1,294 women (39.8 [11.2] years). Chronotypes were determined with the reduced version of the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire. We calculated the metabolic equivalents (METs) consumed per week based on the four types of LTPA: strolling, brisk walking, light- and moderate-intensity PA, and vigorous-intensity PA. Regular LTPA and for a sufficient duration was defined as doing once or more per week and for 30 min or longer per session, respectively. Logistic regression analysis was conducted separately by sex to calculate odds ratios of ET for regular LTPA and for a sufficient duration, adjusted for age and other factors, for each type of LTPA. Results ET men consumed fewer total METs per week than MT men (p