The associations of different types of sports and exercise with health status and diseases: evidence from Russian longitudinal data

Abstract

The positive effect of physical activity on health status is well established in the literature, yet little is known about the links between specific types of sports/exercise and different diseases. Accordingly, this article investigates these associations in the long term using a representative sample from Russia. The data are taken from the Russia Longitudinal Monitoring Survey, over the years 2000–2017. The sample consists of adults between 18 and 60 years old. Because the variables on health and diseases are ordinal or binary, the main empirical strategy consists of ordered and binary logistic regressions. Combat sports and the use of exercise equipment are positively associated with the probabilities of being classified in the higher levels of health status; other activities did not show robust results. Moreover, there are negative associations between aerobic/athletic sports and diseases of the joints, heart and lungs. By contrast, pleasure walking presented positive associations with diseases of the upper respiratory tract and heart, with allergies and varicose veins, with eye, spinal, neurological, urogenital, and other chronic diseases. The results are slightly different in male and female subsamples. Different types of sports/exercise show different associations with health status and different diseases. This research recommends the use of exercise equipment, combat, athletic, and aerobic sports. Yet, it is not possible to claim causality, so further research should employ experimental designs using these findings as a guide.