Abstract
994 The present study examined predictors of physical activity in a working class, peri-urban community in South Africa, and the associated risks for chronic diseases of lifestyle. In 1996, a random sample of 500 plots was drawn from a total of 1079 plots in the peri-urban community of Mamre, 45 km from central Cape Town. All occupants between the ages of 15 and 64 years were invited to participate. The response rate was 64.5% (N = 974). Sociodemographic and anthropometric data were obtained by trained field workers, and physical activity was assessed using 7-day physical activity recall. Blood pressure and oral glucose tolerance, in response to a 75 g glucose load, were also measured. Levels of physical activity (kcal/kg/day) were higher in men than women (P < 0.0001), in employed persons compared to unemployed persons (59.7 ± 8.9 vs 52.7 ± 9.7 kcal/kg/d, P < 0.001) and in those with tertiary education compared to those without tertiary training (P < 0.008). More than 35% of young women under the age of 25 years, and women and men over the age of 55 years were in the lowest quartile of total energy expenditure for physical activity. Physical activity levels were highest in persons working as unskilled laborers (P < 0.0001). Energy expenditure associated with physical activity was inversely related to systolic blood pressure, as well as, fasting and 2 hour blood glucose concentrations (P < 0.05). Low levels of physical activity significantly predicted hypertension (P < 0.03), and was also an independent risk factor for non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), along with age, family history and waist circumference (P = 0.05). These results show the important relationships between age, education and employment on patterns of physical activity in a peri-urban, working class community. Furthermore, low levels of physical activity are a significant risk factor for NIDDM and hypertension, even in communities undergoing rapid epidemiological transition.
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