Physical Activity Levels In Women Research Articles

Changes in physical activity behavior and the development of body mass index during the last 30 years in Norway

Body mass index (BMI; kg/m(2)) has increased markedly in the last decades. We hypothesized that highly physically active persons both at work and at leisure would be resistant to weight gain. The hypothesis was tested by analyzing Norwegian cross-sectional data collected in the period 1972-2002. Participants were 214,449 men and 206,136 women (aged 20-70 years). During the last 30 years in men and the last 15 years in women, a systematic larger BMI increase per year was observed in the sedentary [regression coefficients (SE) in men 0.060 (0.004) kg/m(2) and women 0.137 (0.012) kg/m(2)] compared with highly physically active groups [regression coefficients (SE) in men 0.036 (0.00 4) kg/m(2), and in women -0.001 (0.039) kg/m(2)]. Analyses were robust to adjustments for age, smoking and education. There was a larger absolute net increase in the prevalence of obesity among the sedentary compared with persons performing light, moderate or heavy physical activity (PA) at leisure. PA level in women both at work and in leisure was not associated with weight gain during the last decades. This association was less evident among men. Men and women who were lightly, moderately or highly active at leisure were less likely to be obese compared with those who were sedentary.

Changes in activity level in women aged 40–80 years

Objectives The purpose of this study was to report habitual physical activity levels in women and document the change in level of activity and factors affecting this change over a 5-year period.Methods A 5-year prospective cohort design was used. Women aged 40–80 years, living independently in the community, were recruited via the electoral role. The effects were investigated, first, of age, activity level, history of falls, number of co-morbidities and medications, body mass index and stability at baseline on change in activity level and, second, change in these demographics on activity level over the study period.Results Data from 459 women who completed our study are reported. Only activity level and body mass index at baseline significantly affected change in activity level (p < 0.000). Change in activity level was not influenced by change in demographics over the study period. The forties and fifties cohorts accounted for the baseline body mass index effect on activity change (p < 0.04). In the forties cohort, number of medical conditions at base line (p < 0.03) and, in the sixties cohort, increase in number of medical conditions (p = 0.011) affected activity level change.Conclusions Activity level at baseline and body mass index in younger women were most likely to affect change over time. Being unsteady or having already fallen did not stimulate change.

Recreational physical activity levels in healthy older women: the importance of fear of falling.

To examine whether fear of falling is a probable cause of reduced recreational physical activity levels in healthy older women. Cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from a longitudinal study. One thousand five hundred older, ambulatory women (aged 70-85), selected at random from the electoral roll. Self-reported recreational physical activity levels and fear of falling, demographic variables, anthropometric variables and measures of disability, and physical and cognitive function. The study subjects had low levels of physical and cognitive impairments; 24.1% of the group was obese (body mass index> 30). Twenty-six percent of the women did not participate in recreational physical activity; 39% participated in sufficient activity to gain probable health benefits. Although the women who did not participate in recreational activities were most likely to report fear of falling (45.2%), it was common in the group as a whole (33.9%), including the most active women (27.0%). Independent risk factors for nonparticipation in physical activity were fear of falling (odds ratio (OR)=0.70, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.54-0.90, P=.006), obesity (OR=0.50, 95% CI=0.38-0.66, P=.001), and slower times on the timed up-and-go test (OR=0.88, 95% CI=0.84-0.92, P=.001). Fear of falling was also independently associated with lower recreational physical activity levels in women who were active (beta=-0.09, P=.003). Subgroup analysis suggested that fear of falls affected activity levels at a predisability stage in women with mildly impaired mobility. Fear of falling is common in healthy, high-functioning older women and is independently associated with reduced levels of participation in recreational physical activity. Fear of falling is an important psychological barrier that may need to be overcome in programs attempting to improve activity levels in older women.

Physical Activity Patterns of Adult Women with Physical Disabilities

915 The physical activity (PA) patterns of adult women with physical disabilities were surveyed via a questionnaire mailed to 725 women in a metropolitan area of a northeastern urban center. 178 women responded; 126 women met the inclusion criteria of an age range of 21 to 55 yrs. Survey respondents were 45.4 ± 7.7 yrs, predominantly Caucasian (80.6%; 15.3% African-American), and had an education level of HS/GED (33.6%), some college(22.1%), or bachelors' degree (21.3%). 27 different physical disabilities were identified as the primary physical disability, with 47.6% being multiple sclerosis, 7.1% being cerebral palsy, and 3.2% being polio or blindness. Self-reported PA levels were assessed by means of the Health Plan Activity Survey (Ainsworth et al., 1996), a modified Baecke survey designed to measure PA levels in women. Survey data revealed that the women engaged“never” or “less than once per month” in physically active household activities (71-97%) and active exercise (55-87%). The majority of the women (54%) walked/ propelled/cycled < 5min/day to/from work, school, and/or errands. In their current occupation, the women reported that they predominantly “sometimes to always,” sit (85%) and“never or seldom” stand (58%), walk (55%), lift heavy loads (91%), or sweat from exertion (79%). These reported low levels of PA in women with physical disabilities compare unfavorably with U.S. and Canadian surveys of PA levels in women with or without physical disabilities.