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At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Physical activity, physical fitness, and risk of dying.

We examined the relation between physical activity, physical fitness, and all-cause mortality in a national population-based study of Canadians. We followed men and women ages 20-69 years who had participated in the Canada Fitness Survey between 1981 and 1988. We assessed risk factors for 6,246 men and 8,196 women using multivariate Poisson regression analysis. At baseline, all subjects were asymptomatic according to self-reported screening questions for cardiovascular disease. Men who expended > or =0.5 kilocalories per kilogram of body weight per day (KKD) experienced a 20% decline in risk of mortality [rate ratio (RR) = 0.82; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.65-1.04] when compared with subjects expending <0.5 KKD. We observed a 30% decline in risk of mortality among women expending > or =3.0 KKD relative to those expending <0.5 KKD (RR = 0.71; 95% CI = 0.45-1.11). Similar patterns of risk were evident for both men and women when analyses were restricted to participation in nonvigorous activities. Those who perceived themselves to be of less than average fitness were at increased risk of mortality (male RR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.21-2.22; female RR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.21-2.26). Subjects with undesirable cardiorespiratory fitness levels were more likely to die, compared with those having recommended fitness levels (RR = 1.52; 95% CI = 0.72-3.18). Fifty-three per cent of men and 35% of women reported participating in a vigorous activity. The relation between daily energy expenditure and risk of mortality in these subjects could not be evaluated, as there were few deaths. Nonetheless, our results among participants reporting no vigorous activities support the hypothesis that there is a reduction in mortality risk associated with even modest participation in activities of low intensity.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Epidemiology of physical activity, physical fitness and coronary heart disease.

Observational population-based studies have consistently shown an inverse dose-response gradient between physical activity or fitness and coronary heart disease. This relationship is more firmly established in men. Existing studies suggest that the physical activity gradient, and perhaps the fitness gradient, is produced by a combination of varying levels of both the intensity and the amount of habitual physical activity. It is not at present possible to definitively describe the dose-response association between the intensity of physical activity and the risk of coronary heart disease. An answer to this important question awaits further research.

Coronary Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

["Unfair" effect of physical activity. Physically inactive individuals must exercise for a longer period to achieve the preventive targets].

The capacity to turnover energy during exercise is regulated by the maximal aerobic capacity. Advices regarding physical activity must therefore be modified and individualised based on the maximal aerobic capacity of the patient. Initially, physical training of patients with low capacity to turn over energy will make it more difficult for the patient to achieve goals of disease prevention and weight reduction. In addition, physical inactive subjects are more negative to physical exercise than physically active subjects. However, physically inactive subjects must be informed that they can increase their maximal aerobic capacity by physical training rapidly. In addition, they must be informed that it takes 10-20 weeks of regular physical endurance training to achieve increased vitality and a more positive attitude towards physical activity, and furthermore, that it is necessary with physical endurance training 2-4 times on a weekly basis to maintain positive effects of physical training.

Anaerobic Threshold↗
PubMed2000

Relationships between physical activity, physical fitness, muscle strength and nutritional state in 5- to 11-year-old children.

The purpose of the present study was to assess different aspects of physical activity and fitness in order to develop a basis for sport programmes for overweight and obese children. Eighty-eight prepubertal children (49 boys, 39 girls, 4.8-11.4 years old, 61% obese, 14% overweight and 25% normal weight) were examined. Body composition was assessed by combined use of anthropometrics and bioelectrical impedance analysis. Resting energy expenditure (REE) and total energy expenditure (TEE) were measured by indirect calorimetry (IC) and individually calibrated 24-h heart rate (HR) monitoring, respectively. Activity-related energy expenditure (AEE) and physical activity level (PAL) were calculated from TEE and REE. Fitness [assessed by O2-pulse, respiratory exchange ratio (RER) at submaximal work intensities] was determined by ergometry. The maximal isometric muscle strength of the legs (m. quadriceps, Fa max, m. ischiocruralis, Fb max) was measured by computer tensiometry. Children were grouped according to their nutritional state, AEE, O2-pulse and muscle strength. When compared with normal weight children, obese and overweight children had increased fat mass (FM), fat-free mass (FFM), waist-to-hip ratio and REE, but no group differences were observed for TEE, AEE, and PAL. Obese and overweight children spent more hours per day watching TV. After correction for body weight and FFM, no group differences in REE were observed, but normal weight children had a higher O2-pulse than overweight and obese children. By contrast, RER was increased in the latter group. The fittest group had the lowest body weight, BMI, FM and FFM. Children with a low O2-pulse spent more hours per day watching TV. Grouping children according to their degree of muscle strength, younger children (4-7.5 years) did not show group differences in nutritional state, energy expenditure, physical activity and fitness. However, in the group of 7.6- to 11-year-old children, those with the greatest muscle strength and FFM had reduced BMI, skin folds, FM and FFM. FM correlated inversely with O2-pulse, but was not associated with TEE, AEE, PAL or muscle strength. By contrast TV consumption was positively associated with FM. To summarize, overweight and obese children were less fit and watched more TV than their normal weight counterparts. FM did not correspond to TEE, AEE or PAL. Muscle strength was not associated with FM in young children, but was inversely associated with FM in older children. Our cross-sectional data are consistent with the idea that increased fitness and reduced physical inactivity may prevent children from being overweight.

Body Composition↗
PubMed1987

The inter-relationships of physical activity, physical fitness, and body measurements.

While several measures of physical activity have been used in research, it is not clear how these measures relate to each other or to measures of fitness and fatness. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships of three commonly used indicators of physical activity to determine how they relate to each other as well as to measures of physical fitness and anthropometric measurements related to body fatness. Data from white adult men working for U.S. railroad companies in 1957 to 1960, who were free of pre-existing cardiovascular disease (N = 2,356), were used to study these relationships cross-sectionally. Total and intense leisure time activity and occupational activity were directly related to caloric intake. Total leisure time activity was inversely related to exercise test heart rate and directly related to body mass index, but not related to resting heart rate or skinfold thickness. Intense leisure time activity was significantly related to all fitness measures and not significantly related to fatness. Caloric intake was directly related to measures of fitness and inversely related to fatness. Occupational activity was directly related to measures of fitness and body mass index, and inversely related to skinfold thickness. These results provide a better understanding of methods appropriate to ascertaining physical activity in epidemiologic research as well as assisting in the comparison of results from studies which have used different physical activity indicators.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Physical activity, physical fitness and mortality in a sample of middle aged men followed-up 25 years.

One-thousand-seven-hundred-twelve men aged 40-59, representing two demographic samples of rural areas in Northern and Central Italy, were examined in 1960 and then followed-up for 25 years. Total mortality and coronary mortality were related to the entry measurements of physical activity at work, estimated in three levels by a simple questionnaire and to four possible indicators of physical fitness, ie resting heart rate, the circumference of the right arm cleaned from the contribution of skin and subcutaneous fat, vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in 3/4 sec, the latter two adjusted by height. The four indicators of fitness and the score of physical activity were somewhat related each other in the expected direction. Both all causes and coronary mortality were indirectly related to the score of physical activity. The relative risk for age adjusted rates of sedentary vs heavy workers was 1.23 for all causes of death, and 1.72 for coronary deaths. Direct univariate relationships were found between resting heart rate and mortality (for both all causes and coronary deaths) whereas indirect relationships were found for arm circumference and the two indicators of respiratory function. The age adjusted relative risks between the upper and the bottom quartile of the distribution were, for all causes of death, 0.75 for vital capacity, 0.68 for forced expiratory volume 1.32 for heart rate, and 0.84 for arm circumference. The correspondent relative risks for coronary deaths were 0.71, 0.65, 1.23 and 1.02 respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Physical activity, physical fitness, blood pressure, and fibrinogen in the Northern Ireland health and activity survey.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between physical activity, physical fitness, blood pressure, and fibrinogen. DESIGN: This was a cross sectional population study using a two stage probability sample. SETTING: Northern Ireland. PARTICIPANTS: A sample of 1600 subjects aged 16-74 years from the population of Northern Ireland. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Physical activity profile from computer assisted interview using the Allied Dunbar national fitness survey scales. Physical fitness using estimation of VO2 max by extrapolation from submaximal oxygen uptake while walking on a motor driven treadmill. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure measured with a Hawksley random zero sphygmomanometer. Measurement of fibrinogen using the Clauss method. MAIN RESULTS: There were significant relationships between both current and past activity and blood pressure. These were of a magnitude that would have been clinically significant, but for the fact that, with the exception of the relationship between habitual activity and diastolic pressure (p = 0.03) and past activity and systolic pressure (p = 0.03) in men, they were not sustained after adjustment for the effect of age using analysis of variance. After adjustment for other potentially confounding factors using multiple regression, there was an inverse relationship between systolic blood pressure and past activity in men, so that those with a life-time of participation compared with a life-time of inactivity had a lower systolic blood pressure of 6 mmHg (p < 0.05). There was a highly significant (p < 0.001) inverse association between both systolic and diastolic blood pressure and physical fitness (VO2 max) which was not sustained after adjustment for possible confounding factors. There were relationships between fibrinogen and highest recorded activity (p < 0.001), habitual activity (p < 0.01), and past activity (p < 0.01) in men but no significant relationship in women. The relationship between fibrinogen and activity was no longer sustained after adjustment for possible confounding factors. There was a highly significant (p < 0.001) inverse relationship with physical fitness using VO2 max. This relationship was sustained after adjustment for possible confounding factors in both men (p < 0.05) and women (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: There was a relationship between physical activity, physical fitness, and blood pressure but the relationship was greatly influenced by age. A reduction of 6 mmHg in systolic blood pressure associated with past activity is of clinical significance and supports the hypothesis that physical activity is of benefit in reducing cardiovascular risk. There was a lower level of fibrinogen in those who were most active but this relationship was not significant after adjustment for possible confounding factors. There was also a lower level of fibrinogen those who were most fit (VO2 max) and this relationship persisted even after adjustment for possible confounding factors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Physical activity, physical fitness, and coronary heart disease risk factors in youth: the Québec Family Study.

OBJECTIVE: The relationships between physical activity, fitness, and CHD risk factors were investigated in 342 males and 268 females 9-18 years of age. METHODS: Daily energy expenditure, moderate to vigorous physical activity, inactivity, and television viewing time were estimated. Indicators of physical fitness included submaximal work capacity, quadriceps muscle strength, sit-ups, and the sum of six skinfolds. Risk factors included mean arterial blood pressure and fasting blood levels of triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and glucose. RESULTS: Canonical correlations between activity and risk factor profiles range from 0.22 to 0.45, while those between fitness and risk factor profiles range from 0.34 to 0.55, indicating that 5 to 20% and 11 to 30% of the variance in the risk profile is explained by activity and fitness, respectively. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that both physical fitness and level of habitual physical activity are strongly associated with CHD risk factors in this sample of youth.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Sports activity, physical activity and fitness of 9- to 19-year-old teenagers in the canton of Vaud (Switzerland).

BACKGROUND: The protective effects of physical activity and fitness on cardiovascular health have clearly been shown among adults and, to a lesser extent, among children and adolescents. However, data are currently lacking pertaining to children and adolescents living in Switzerland. OBJECTIVES: To gather data on the physical fitness and physical/sports activity of children and adolescents aged 9 to 19 years. METHODS: From September 1996 until March 1997, 3540 subjects (1778 girls, 1762 boys) from the canton of Vaud were enrolled in a multifaceted study which included a battery of 7 tests measuring different components of fitness, anthropometric measures and a self-administered questionnaire assessing physical activity, health and lifestyles. RESULTS: Most of the respondents practise sports on a regular basis but boys engage in physical and sports activities much more often than girls: 75% of boys versus 56% of girls spent at least one hour a day in activities inducing sweating, an index of moderate to vigorous physical activity (p < 0.001). Depending on the grade, 56 to 74% of girls and 62 to 88% of boys reported participation in sports clubs (p < 0.01); current participation ranges from 33 to 46% among girls and 64 to 69% among boys (p < 0.001). Participation in physical and sports activities was lower after age 15 than before, and also lower among girls than among boys. As far as fitness is concerned, girls exhibit greater flexibility than boys, while the latter exhibit greater strength and endurance, especially after age 15. Calculated values for the BMI and VO2max are within the ranges published in the international literature for both sexes. CONCLUSION: Programmes and strategies which aim to increase physical activities should be gender-specific and should especially target adolescents aged over 15. Physical/sports activities and fitness could and should be monitored using both a battery of tests and self-administered questionnaires.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Physical activity, physical fitness, and Framingham 10-year risk score: the cross-cultural activity participation study.

PURPOSE: Although physical activity and physical fitness are inversely and causally associated with coronary heart disease (CHD) morbidity and mortality, available equations for estimating CHD risk do not include scores for activity or fitness. Therefore, this study evaluated the association of physical fitness and moderate-intensity physical activity with the 10-year Framingham CHD risk estimate. METHODS: Cross-sectional analyses were performed on data from 137 healthy middle-aged women (53.9 +/- 9.9 yr; 28.3 +/- 6.0 kg/m2). Health histories, body composition, blood pressure, and blood samples were obtained from a clinical examination. Levels of moderate (3-6 METS) intensity physical activity, expressed as MET-minutes/day of energy expenditure, were derived from multiple 24-hour physical activity records. Physical fitness was quantified as duration of a symptom-limited maximal treadmill exercise test. RESULTS: After adjustment for race, body mass index (BMI), and hormone replacement status, a graded reduction in the Framingham risk score was observed across low (5.8%), moderate (4.0%), and high (3.6%) fitness levels (P for trend = 0.009). Women in both the moderate and high fitness categories had a lower (P < 0.01) risk score compared with their low fit counterparts. Significant differences in risk were not seen among low (3.9%), moderate (4.9%), and high (4.4%) physical activity groups. The lack of association between the risk score by physical activity may have been due to the homogeneity of activity levels among participants. Our findings reinforce existing data that show enhanced levels of fitness are associated with lower risk for CHD.

Coronary Disease↗
PubMed1985

[Physical activity, physical fitness and coronary disease].

The relationship between physical activity on and off the job, physical fitness and coronary artery disease was investigated in a prospective study involving 2 363 men, 40 to 55 years old. Sudden death and myocardial infarction occurred in 31 subjects during a 5-year follow-up. Preliminary data are reported. There was no significant correlation between quartiles of physical activity on and off the job and incidence of coronary events. Physical fitness was significantly inversely correlated with incidence of coronary events (p less than 0.05) and was significantly lower in the 31 new cases (p less than 0.03). Multivariate analysis showed that HDL-cholesterol, smoking and physical fitness significantly and independently discriminate between coronary prone patients and healthy subjects. We conclude that physical fitness is an independent, inverse risk indicator of new coronary events.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Levels of physical activity, physical fitness and their relationship in the Northern Ireland Health and Activity Survey.

The aim of the study was to describe the physical activity and physical fitness profile of the population of Northern Ireland and to explore the relationship between physical activity and physical fitness. This was a cross sectional population study using a two stage probability sample of the adult population of Northern Ireland (aged 16+). The main outcome measures were physical activity profile based on computer assisted interview. Physical fitness using estimation of VO2max by extrapolation from submaximal oxygen uptake while walking on a motor driven treadmill. We found that males were more vigorously active than females (M 21%:F 6%) with a steep gradient of decreasing activity with age: 49% (M 52%:F 46%) were regularly active up to at least moderate intensity. Males (mean predicted VO2max 44.4 mls/kg/min; 16-74 years) were fitter than females (mean predicted VO2max 34.0 mls/kg/min; 16-74 years) and while there was a decline in predicted VO2max with age, there was wide variation within each age category. There was no statistically significant relationship between current or past activity and fitness after adjustment for possible confounding factors, with the exception of a relationship between fitness and activity in males so that the difference between no activity and habitual vigorous activity in predicted VO2max was 4.4mls/kg/min (10.1%).

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Relations among physical activity, physical fitness, and self-perceived fitness in Hong Kong adolescents.

The relationships between physical fitness, activity, and self-perceived fitness in adolescents in Hong Kong were investigated. Regular physical activity patterns, self-perceptions of fitness, and health-related physical fitness were measured in 201 secondary school students (M age = 13.8 yr.). The battery of fitness tests measured cardiovascular capacity, flexibility, muscular strength, muscular endurance, and body fat composition. The boys had a higher self-perception of their own fitness and exercised more outside school than the girls. Participation in physical activity was related to cardiovascular capacity, muscular strength, and body composition. Linear regression analysis indicated that exercise activity and body composition explained a portion of variance in the subjects' self-perceived fitness. These findings highlight the connections between physical activity, fitness, and self-perception of fitness and consequently the need for understanding the concept for better health-promotion strategies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Habitual physical activity, physical fitness and heart rate variability in preadolescents.

The amount and type of physical activity (PA) appropriate in youth for optimal health is still being discussed. The purpose of this study on 12-year-old preadolescents is to evaluate the association of two PA patterns, corresponding to different exercise intensities, with some health-related indexes. PA was evaluated by triaxial accelerometry in 67 student subjects, who were successively classified according to 1) their usual participation or not in moderately intense (> 4 metabolic equivalents, METs) activities (either in daily life or in leisure activities) for at least 210 min a week (4 M (210)); and 2) the habitual practice or not of more intense activities (> 6 METs) for at least 60 min a week (6 M (60)). Health-related indexes consisted of cardiopulmonary (maximum oxygen uptake, V.O 2max), muscular (lower limb strength) fitness parameters and vagal-related indexes of heart rate (HR) variability (HRV), such as the HF/(LF+HF) ratio (where HF and LF stand for high and low frequency power). HR was recorded in the supine position after 15 min of quiet rest, and HRV indexes were calculated in 5-min segments. Energy expenditure due to PA was not significantly associated with any health-related index. Reaching 4 M (210) was associated with both higher estimated V.O 2max (p < 0.05) and higher muscular strength indexes (p < 0.05) but not with enhanced HRV indexes. Subjects who reached 6 M (60) had higher estimated V.O2max (p < 0.05) and higher HF/(LF+HF) (p < 0.05). Our results show that regular moderately intense activities are sufficient to influence physical fitness but suggest that more intense activities are necessary to observe more favorable HRV vagal-related indexes.

Child↗
PubMed1981

Physical activity, physical fitness and cardiovascular diseases: design of a prospective epidemiologic study.

From November 1976 to September 1978, a total of 3,179 active men, 40-55 years old, were screened for established or possible risk factors. Standard questionnaires were administered to assess psycho-social behavior and physical activity on and off the job. Physical fitness was determined by means of a graded sub-maximal exercise test. Information on coronary heart disease incidence will be collected over a 6-year period. The main objective of the study is to establish prospectively if physical activity and/or physical capacity are independent risk factors. Intercorrelations between fitness, physical activity and other measured variables will bae analyzed. Doppler ultrasound and 24-hour ECG recording for detecting peripheral vascular disease and rhythm disturbances have also been used; their value and role in screening for cardiovascular disease is further discussed.

Adult↗