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PubMed2003

Physical activity during leisure and commuting in Tianjin, China.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate physical activity during leisure time and commuting among persons aged 15-69 years in the urban population of Tianjin, China, and to assess its associations with demographic and health-related characteristics. METHODS: In 1996 a cross-sectional survey of 2002 males and 1974 females provided information on physical activity during leisure time and commuting and on demographics and health behaviours. FINDINGS: No leisure-time physical activity was engaged in by 67% of females and 61% of males. However, only 4% of females and 9% of males reported an absence of physical activity during commuting. The mean duration of leisure-time physical activity for the whole population was about 10 min per day. The average commuting time on foot or by bicycle was about 30 min. Leisure-time physical activity was more frequent among highly educated people, people with high incomes, white-collar workers, married people, non-smokers, or people commuting on foot or by bicycle than among other people. Persons with low incomes, male blue-collar workers and married people were more likely than others to engage in 30 min or more per day of physical activity on foot or by bicycle when commuting. CONCLUSION: People in Tianjin engaged in a high level of physical activity when commuting and a low level of leisure-time physical activity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Prevalence of physical activity, including lifestyle activities among adults--United States, 2000-2001.

Regular physical activity helps prevent obesity, heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, colon cancer, and premature mortality. During 1986--2000, the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) included questions that measured leisure-time physical activity (primarily exercise or sports-related activities). Previous guidelines for appropriate physical activity to increase cardiorespiratory fitness included participating in vigorous-intensity activity (i.e., > or =20 minutes per day, > or =3 days per week). BRFSS questions used to measure this level of activity were developed a decade before CDC and the American College of Sports Medicine concluded that health-related benefits could accrue from a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity on most days of the week. Various household and transportation-related physical activities and some leisure-time activities, therefore, can be important to measure. In response to expanded activity recommendations designed to include health-related lifestyle activities, new BRFSS physical activity questions have been developed. After cognitive, validity, and reliability testing, the new lifestyle activity questions were used in the 2001 BRFSS. A separate question allowed tracking of physical inactivity during leisure time across years and was used in the 2000 and 2001 BRFSS questionnaires. This report presents data from responses to the 2000 BRFSS leisure-time activity questions and the updated lifestyle activity questions of the 2001 BRFSS to compare overall U.S. and state-specific prevalence estimates for adults who engaged in physical activities consistent with recommendations from both survey years. The findings indicate that even with a more complete measure of physical activity than used previously, the majority of U.S. adults are not physically active at levels that can promote health.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[An epidemiologic study of the value and limits of physical therapy/exercise therapy in Fontaine stage II arterial occlusive disease].

Using a questionaire the members of the German Society for Angiology (DGA) were interrogated on the use of physical training for the treatment of peripheral arterial occlusive disease; from a total of n = 431 as much as n = 156 responded, i.e. making up a response of 36%. 104 of them conduct physical training either on their own or assign patients to it (67%). In most of the institutions exclusively walking/interval training (83%) or medical exercise (74%) are performed. In most cases the training is conducted by physiotherapeutists (71%). 13% of the patients are admitted exclusively to physical training, 34% undergo combined therapy, i.e. physical training and vaso-active medication. 22% receive mere medical, 31% surgical treatment. A general evaluation on the success of the different therapies applied turned out following frequency: 1. combined therapy (medical treatment/physical training); 2. surgical procedures as a therapeutic measure; 3. physical training; 4. medical treatment. A further study performed at three ambulatory centres offering physical training were to show what kind and to which extent such training is useful. In 34% of the cases (from a total of n = 201 patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease in state II according to Fontaine) contraindications argue against the application of physical training. From a rest of 66% as much as 36% of the patients refuse to undergo physical training the reasons of which were stated with large transport distances and time problems. The remaining rest accepts the offer, although 24% attend such training only sporadically. The results show that mainly contraindications and insufficient patient compliance account for the fact that only one third of the patients attend physical training. The results are discussed and proposals are made to improve patient compliance.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

The adult screening physical examination: what physicians do.

BACKGROUND: Patients expect a thorough physical examination. However, there is debate on the utility of the physical examination, and students are deficient in many common maneuvers. PURPOSES: (1) To estimate physician perceived utility of physical examination maneuvers in a routine adult screening examination. (2) To promote teaching of core physical examination competencies in student and resident education. METHODS: Primary care physicians at 2 academic medical centers were surveyed. Using a 5-category frequency scale, physicians estimated how often they perform and document 90 common physical examination maneuvers in a routine adult screening examination. RESULTS: Survey response rate was 56%. Physicians reported significant variation in frequency of use for individual physical examination maneuvers. Both common (blood pressure) and rarely performed (visual acuity) maneuvers were identified. CONCLUSION: This study helps define the adult screening physical examination by estimating which individual physical examination maneuvers physicians typically utilize. Educational resources and clinical research should focus on identifying an evidence-based approach to the physical examination.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Physical activity among Asians and native Hawaiian or other Pacific islanders--50 States and the District of Columbia, 2001-2003.

Data on physical activity participation rates among Asians and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders (NHOPIs) in the United States are limited. For example, few studies have measured physical activity prevalence among the diverse Asian population, which was estimated to be 11.9 million in 2000 according to the U.S. Census and is projected to increase to 33.4 million by 2050. One of the broadly defined goals of the 2010 national health objectives is to reduce disparities in health among population groups. To determine the prevalence of recommended levels of lifestyle (i.e., nonoccupational) physical activity (e.g., combined leisure-time, household-related, and transport-related), the prevalence of physical inactivity, and the prevalence of leisure-time physical inactivity among Asians and NHOPIs in the United States, CDC analyzed physical activity data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) surveys from 2001, 2002, and 2003 for the Asian and NHOPI populations from all 50 states and the District of Columbia (DC). This report summarizes the results of that analysis, which indicated that 38.6% of Asians and NHOPIs met recommended levels of lifestyle physical activity, compared with 45.8% of the total U.S. population, and approximately 24% were inactive during their leisure time. To increase physical activity in the Asian and NHOPI populations, state and local health departments and other organizations should adopt evidence-based strategies at the community and individual level to promote and encourage physical activity.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

[Development of a Hebrew questionnaire to be used in epidemiological studies to assess physical fitness--validation against sub maximal stress test and predicted VO2max].

BACKGROUND: The physical activity questionnaire is typically chosen for population studies because it is practical and does not interfere with the behavior of the surveyed individual. This instrument can be adapted for the particular studied population, and in terms of accuracy it is both reliable and valid. AIM: To develop a valid and appropriate measure to assess physical fitness according to the level of physical activity throughout the day, and to estimate the relation between a subjective questionnaire measurement evaluating physical activity, to predicted VO2max, as an objective measure of physical fitness. METHODS: Three hundred healthy subjects, 150 men and 150 women, aged 25-65 years old participated in this study. All subjects were routinely examined in the Sheba Medical Center Executive Screening Survey. They were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire and report on the level of physical activity at work, the level of sports activity and the level of leisure time non-sport activity. The index calculated from the questionnaire was compared to the result from a sub-maximal exercise test, which they performed in The Executive Screening Survey, to composite a valid questionnaire to estimate physical fitness. RESULTS: A high and statistically significant correlation (r = 0.64, P < 0.01) was found between the indexes of physical activity calculated from the questionnaire to the predicted VO2max, measured from the sub-maximal exercise test. The reliability of the questionnaire was examined by test-retest and a high and statistically significant correlation (r = 0.89, P < 0.01) was found between the first and the proceeding one month administration of the questionnaire. The final modal to predict VO2max included a total index of physical activity, gender, BMI, age and resting heart rate. Overall this model predicted 58% of the VO2max. CONCLUSIONS: The self-administered questionnaire developed in this study has high construct validity and a significant correlation to predicted VO2max, with high sensitivity in both sexes and among active and non-active subjects. It is therefore an appropriate tool to be used in epidemiological studies.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Perceptions of neighborhood characteristics and leisure-time physical inactivity--Austin/Travis County, Texas, 2004.

Regular physical activity improves quality of life and reduces risk for coronary heart disease, colon cancer, hypertension, diabetes, and overall mortality. Physical activity also has been associated with reduced symptoms of depression and greater independence. A sedentary lifestyle is associated with obesity. However, despite the health benefits of physical activity, 23.1% of adults in the United States report they do not engage in any leisure-time physical activity. Neighborhood environment (e.g., sidewalks and street lighting), perceived trustworthiness of neighbors, and perceptions of neighborhood safety all have been associated with levels of physical activity. During 2004, to assess the association between these factors and leisure-time physical inactivity in eastern Travis County, Texas, the local health department collected and analyzed data by using the methodology of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). This report describes the results of that analysis, which indicated that persons who perceived their neighborhoods as less than extremely safe were more than twice as likely to have no leisure-time physical activity, and those who perceived their neighborhoods as not at all safe were nearly three times as likely to have no leisure-time physical activity. Public health agencies promoting physical activity in neighborhoods should consider how residents perceive their safety and design programs that specifically address those safety concerns.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

[Relationship between physical restraint in nursing homes and their institutional characteristics].

OBJECTS: To clarify relationship between physical restrain in nursing home and its institutional characteristics. METHODS: The subjects consisted of all 103 nursing homes in Okayama prefecture which were open in 2002 with a total of 6,829 residents. Data were obtained by questionnaire through the "Welfare ombudsman Okayama" in 2002 and audited by local government in the same year. We then performed multiple regression analysis. The parameter in question was the ratio of residents who were physically restrained to the residents at high risk of needing physically restraint (physically restrained ratio). Independent valuables were institutional characteristics. To increase the accuracy of estimation, we hypothesized that the residents likely to be the physically restrained were elderly with serious dementia who were defined as IV and over in the dementia elderly daily living independence rank. We also performed analysis with the definition of heavy dementia elderly graded as III and over. RESULTS: We obtained data of 72 institutes housing 1,700 elderly with serious dementia, which did not have any missing values. Of these 74% had at least one resident being physically restrained. The average physically restrained ratio was 24.2%. The institutional characteristics which correlated with use of physical restraint were intensive staffing, holding periodical care conference, and having unit care. The results were robust with regard to change in the serious dementia definition. CONCLUSION: The institutional characteristics which correlate with use of physical restraint are intensive staffing, holding periodical care conference, and having unit care.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Effectiveness of physical therapy for the management of chronic spine disorders: a propensity score approach.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Evidence on the effectiveness of physical therapy for the management of chronic spine disorders is limited. The purpose of this study was to use a large current database, the National Spine Network database, to assess the effectiveness of physical therapy in the management of chronic spine disorders. SUBJECTS: The participants were people who had spine problems lasting 3 months or longer and who were seen for an initial visit and a follow-up visit (N=4,479) at 1 of 17 US spine centers. METHODS: A propensity score approach was used to create a matched sample of participants who received physical therapy (intervention group) and participants who did not receive physical therapy (control group). The 2 groups were similar with regard to more than 50 baseline characteristics. Outcomes were assessed with the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). RESULTS: Both the intervention and control groups improved between the initial and the follow-up visits on ODI scores and on SF-36 physical function, role physical, and bodily pain scores. Although the amount of improvement in the outcome measures was significantly greater for the intervention group than for the control group, the differences were small (3-5 points). When the subgroup of participants who had the greatest propensity for receiving physical therapy was examined, differences in the amount of improvement between the intervention and control groups were larger (5-13 points). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Physical therapy was effective in the management of chronic spine disorders in participants with the greatest propensity for receiving physical therapy. When the entire sample was considered, differences in the amount of improvement between the intervention and control groups were not clinically relevant.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

[Physical exercise in the diabetic. The importance of understanding endocrine and metabolic responses (author's transl)].

During physical activity in normals, metabolic control is well regulated despite major changes in metabolic fuels, glucose and non esterified fatty acids (NEFA). Release of NEFA from adipose tissue is stimulated by a decrease of insulin and blood glucose as well as by an increase of growth hormone, catecholamines and adrenergic stimulation. The increase in glucose utilisation by muscle during physical activity is balanced by an increase in glucose production by the liver. This hepatic glucose production is due to glycogenolysis (beginning of exercise) and by gluconeogenesis (later in time). The metabolic pathways are favoured by decreased insulin and blood glucose levels induced by physical activity and by increased levels of epinephrine, cortisol and glucagon. On the other hand in insulin-dependent diabetics, these compensatory mechanisms might be seriously unbalanced because of non physiologic insulin levels. In well controlled diabetics, moderate physical activity induces the same changes in energetic fuels as in normal controls. When a diabetic exercises after insulin injection, the levels of circulating insulin are always higher than in non-diabetics where blood insulin levels decrease. In diabetics on insulin this supra-normal level of insulin during physical activity decreases hepatic glucose production and increases peripheral glucose uptake with a resultant tendency to hypoglycemia. On the other hand, in poorly controlled diabetics, physical activity can induce a rise in blood glucose. Increased hepatic glucose output, decreased peripheral utilisation of glucose and increased growth hormone, glucagon, epinephrine and cortisol levels might even lead to development of ketosis. Physical activity can disturb the stability of diabetes when insulin levels are either too low or too high leading to high and low blood glucose responses respectively. The benefit of physical activity in the diabetic will therefore depend upon the degree of diabetes control; ideal control is not always easy to obtain or to maintain. Thus, to derive maximum benefit to health both the diabetic and the physician should clearly understand how to adapt treatment to physical activity (prevention of hypoglycemia, change in insulin doses, etc.).

Blood Glucose↗
PubMed1995

Relationships between physical activity, insulin levels and lipids in non-diabetic low income residents of Mexico City: the Mexico City Diabetes Study.

The epidemiologic data supporting an association between physical activity and lipoprotein profile is controversial. We hypothesized that physical activity is positively associated with triglyceride levels and negatively associated with high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels, and that these associations are mediated by insulin activity. We tested these hypotheses in 819 male and 1159 female healthy non-diabetic Mexicans, aged 35-64 years, residing in Mexico City. Physical activity was assessed using a modified Stanford 7-day Physical Activity Recall. Serum glucose and insulin were evaluated in the fasting state and 2 h following a glucose challenge. Crude analysis indicated that physical activity was not associated with HDL cholesterol in males, but was associated with HDL cholesterol in females (r = 0.06; p = 0.025). Physical activity was not associated with triglyceride concentration in males or females. Multivariate results showed that the positive association between HDL cholesterol and physical activity in women remained after controlling for age, estrogen status, body mass index, and smoking. Furthermore, there was a significant interaction between physical activity, HDL cholesterol and an index of insulin sensitivity. Women with higher levels of insulin sensitivity had higher levels of HDL cholesterol. However, among women at lower levels of insulin sensitivity, those with greater physical activity were significantly more likely to have higher HDL cholesterol values.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[A cross-sectional study on relationships between daily physical activity and concentration of serum cholesterol and body mass index in fifth grade elementary schoolchildren and their parents].

The purpose of this study was to estimate the effects of daily physical activity on serum total cholesterol (TC) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), body mass index (BMI) and atherogenic index (AI) in 240 fifth grade schoolchildren, their 174 fathers and 212 mothers. Information on daily physical activity was obtained by inquiry with a questionnaire and was also measured directly with a device sensing acceleration of physical movement. In schoolchildren, effect of physical activity on TC, HDL-C and AI was not apparent, but that on BMI was shown. In adult men, HDL-C differed by job classification and increased as the degree of physical labor increased from desk work to light and heavy work. Strength of physical activity using the quotient of total amount of measured physical activity divided by body weight had a significant positive correlation with serum HDL-C (r = 0.20, p < 0.05) and significant negative correlation with AI (r = -0.18, p < 0.05) in adult men. In adult women, daily physical activity did not have a significant correlation to TC, HDL-C, AI or BMI. These results appear to suggest that the effect of daily physical activity on serum cholesterol, AI, BMI of schoolchildren and adult women was smaller than that for adult men.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Leisure-time physical activity among older adults. United States, 1990.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and selected correlates of leisure-time physical activity in a nationally representative sample of persons aged 65 years or older. METHODS: Data from 2783 older male and 5018 older female respondents to the 1990 National Health Interview Survey were used. Regular physical activity was defined as participation in leisure-time physical activities 3 times or more per week for 30 minutes or more during the previous 2 weeks. Odds ratios (ORs) were estimated from multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Prevalence of regular physical activity was 37% among older men and 24% among older women. Correlates of regular physical activity included the perception of excellent to good health (men: OR, 1.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-1.9; women: OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.3-1.9), correct exercise knowledge (men: OR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.9-3.1; women: OR, 2.7; 95% CI, 2.2-3.4), no activity limitations (men: OR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.0-1.6; women: OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.4-2.0) and not perceiving "a lot" of stress during the previous 2 weeks (men: OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.2-2.4; women: OR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.0-1.6). Among those who had been told at least twice that they had high blood pressure, physician's advice to exercise was associated with regular physical activity (men: OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.2-2.3; women: OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.2-1.9). The 2 major activities among active older adults were walking (men, 69%; women, 75%) and gardening (men, 45%; women, 35%). CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of regular physical activity is low among older Americans. Identifying the correlates of physical activity will help to formulate strategies to increase physical activity in this age group.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Hospitalization, inpatient physical therapy and institutionalization after hospital discharge of prostate cancer patients in south Florida.

PURPOSE: Explaining survival variation in prostate cancer requires the identification of new predictive factors, of which physical function is attractive hypothetically. To understand physical dysfunction in prostate cancer better, we examined medical claims. Our aims were to describe the consumption of inpatient resources, examine the association of physical therapy with institutionalization after hospital discharge and determine the association of disease stage with frequency of hospitalization, inpatient physical therapy and discharge to a skilled nursing facility. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used 1994 Medicare claims for patients in South Florida who had prostate cancer. To examine the association of disease stage with use of health services, we inferred disease stage from stage specific treatment. Multiple linear regression was used to examine the interaction of inferred disease stage with health services while adjusting for age. RESULTS: A total of 22,279 residents of South Florida a mean of 78.3 years old with prostate cancer billed Medicare in 1994. Of these patients 2,507 were admitted to a hospital 4,606 times, resulting in total charges of $70 million. Many claims indicated physical dysfunction, including 1,896 charges for physical therapy, which was associated with more institutionalization after hospital discharge. Disease stage and patient age were individually associated with the frequency of hospitalization, inpatient physical therapy and discharge to a skilled nursing facility. CONCLUSIONS: Inpatients with prostate cancer have substantial stage dependent physical dysfunction. If the hypothesized interaction of physical dysfunction with mortality is confirmed in prospective studies and outpatient settings, theoretically the door will have been opened to new interventions for prolonging survival in patients with prostate cancer.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Influence of physical training on plasma leptin in obese youths.

Little is known about the effects of different intensities of physical training on plasma leptin. This study examined the effect of two intensities of physical training on leptin in obese teenagers, and explored correlates at baseline and in response to 8 months of physical training. The participants were 55 obese youths 12-16 years of age who completed both baseline and posttesting. The youths were randomized to engage in lifestyle education only (LSE), moderate-intensity physical training and LSE, or high-intensity physical training and LSE. Baseline leptin was positively associated with fat mass. Girls had higher leptin levels at lower levels of fasting insulin than boys. The 8-mo physical training doses prescribed to obese teenagers did not result in significant group differences in mean change in leptin, although there was large variability in individual response. The change in leptin was inversely associated with baseline leptin and change in cardiovascular fitness. Diet, physical activity level, visceral adiposity, and glucose concentrations were not associated with leptin, neither at baseline nor in response to physical training. At baseline, total fat mass rather than visceral adiposity was associated with higher leptin levels. Over the 8-mo intervention period, regardless of group membership, youths who had the lowest increase in cardiovascular fitness tended to have the highest increase in leptin.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Barriers and benefits to leisure-time physical activity among older Mexican Americans.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the perceived barriers to and benefits of leisure-time physical activity among older Mexican Americans (MA) and European Americans (EA). DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey using in-home interviews of subjects. SETTING: Subjects recruited from 10 family practice offices in South Texas that are part of a practice-based research network. PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred ten MA and EA adults, aged 60 years and older, interviewed between April 1994 and April 1996. MEASUREMENTS: The perceived benefits and barriers summary score from the San Diego Health and Exercise Questionnaire, the Minnesota Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire, body mass index, chronic diseases, depressive symptoms, and demographics. MAIN RESULTS: Older MA reported greater perceived benefits to physical activity and fewer perceived barriers than older MA while having lower levels of habitual physical activity. Lower levels of education, male sex, higher body mass index, and older age were also associated with lower levels of habitual physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: Although MA reported lower levels of physical activity, they perceived greater benefits and fewer barriers to physical activity. These attitudes about physical activity held by older MA may present an opportunity to encourage greater levels of physical activity throughout this population.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Physical activity, metabolic factors, and the incidence of coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the role of nonfasting serum insulin level and components of the insulin resistance syndrome in the relationship between physical activity and the incidence of coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Prospective study of 5159 men aged 40 to 59 years with no history of coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, or stroke drawn from general practices in 18 British towns. During an average follow-up period of 16.8 years, there were 616 cases of major coronary heart disease events (fatal and nonfatal) and 196 incident cases of type 2 diabetes. RESULTS: After adjustment for potential confounders (lifestyle characteristics and preexisting disease), physical activity was inversely related to coronary heart disease rates, with the lowest rates in the men undertaking moderate physical activity and with no further benefit thereafter. For type 2 diabetes, risk decreased progressively with increasing levels of physical activity. Physical activity was associated with serum insulin level and with factors associated with insulin, ie, heart rate, hyperuricemia, diastolic blood pressure, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level, and with gamma-glutamyltransferase level, a possible marker of hepatic insulin resistance. Adjustment for insulin and associated factors made little difference to the relationship between physical activity and risk of coronary heart disease. By contrast, these factors together with gamma-glutamyltransferase level appear to explain a large proportion of the reduction in risk of type 2 diabetes associated with physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: The relationship between physical activity and type 2 diabetes appears to be mediated by serum true insulin level and components of the insulin resistance syndrome. However, these factors do not appear to explain the inverse relationship between physical activity and coronary heart disease.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Relationship between physical activity and inflammation among apparently healthy middle-aged and older US adults.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity has been associated with a reduced risk of coronary heart disease, but the mechanism underlying this association is unclear. Because coronary heart disease is increasingly seen as an inflammatory process, it might be reasonable to hypothesize that physical activity reduces risk of coronary heart disease by reducing or preventing inflammation. METHODS: The study examined the relationship between physical activity and elevated inflammation as indicated by a high C-reactive protein level, white blood cell count, or fibrinogen level. Study subjects were 3638 apparently healthy US men and women 40 years and older who participated in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. RESULTS: More frequent physical activity was independently associated with a lower odds of having an elevated C-reactive protein level. Compared with those engaging in physical activity 0 to 3 times per month, the odds of having an elevated C-reactive protein level was reduced among those engaging in physical activity 4 to 21 times per month (odds ratio, 0.77; 95% confidence interval, 0.58-1.02) and 22 or more times per month (odds ratio, 0.63; 95% confidence interval, 0.43-0.93) (P for trend,.02). Similar associations were seen for white blood cell count and fibrinogen levels. CONCLUSIONS: More frequent physical activity is independently associated with a lower odds of having elevated inflammation levels among apparently healthy US adults 40 years and older, independent of several confounding factors. The results suggest that the association between physical activity and reduced coronary heart disease risk may be mediated by anti-inflammatory effects of regular physical activity.

Adult↗