Heikki Pekkarinen

Commuting, leisure time physical activity and cardiovascular risk factors in China

PURPOSEnThe relationship between both commuting and leisure-time physical activity and selected cardiovascular risk factors was analyzed.nnnMETHODSnA cross-sectional survey was carried out in 1996 in urban Tianjin, China. A total of 2002 male and 1974 female subjects aged 15-69 yr completed the survey. Commuting, leisure-time physical activity, body mass index, blood pressure, and cigarette smoking were determined.nnnRESULTSnDoing more than 60 min of commuting physical activity or combined commuting and leisure-time physical activity was related to the highest mean blood pressure and the highest prevalence of hypertension among both genders compared with going to and from work by bus; 31-60 min commuting only or commuting plus leisure-time physical activity was associated with the lowest mean blood pressure in women and the lowest prevalence of hypertension in both genders. Daily time on commuting or leisure-time physical activity was inversely related to mean body mass index and prevalence of overweight among men and prevalence of smoking among both genders.nnnCONCLUSIONnThe present study suggests that commuting and leisure-time physical activity were favorably associated with cardiovascular risk factors in this Chinese population, except that more than 60 min of physical activity was associated with high blood pressure.

Life events and change in leisure time physical activity: a systematic review.

The global epidemic of chronic non-communicable diseases is closely related to changes in lifestyle, including decreasing leisure time physical activity (PA). Physical inactivity is a major public health challenge. To respond to that challenge, it is essential to know which personal and environmental factors affect PA behaviour. Certain life events may be one contributing factor, by creating emotional distress and disrupting a person’s daily routine.The aim was to examine the literature concerning the effects of life events on changes in PA. A systematic literature search was performed on studies that assessed at least one major change in life circumstances and a change in PA. To be included, studies had to assess PA at two timepoints at least (before and after the event). Diseases as life events were excluded from this review. Thirty-four articles met the inclusion criteria. The studies examined the following life-change events: transition to university; change in employment status; marital transitions and changes in relationships; pregnancy/having a child; experiencing harassment at work, violence or disaster; and moving into an institution.The studies reviewed showed statistically significant changes in leisure PA associated with certain life events. In men and women, transition to university, having a child, remarriage and mass urban disaster decreased PA levels, while retirement increased PA. In young women, beginning work, changing work conditions, changing from being single to cohabiting, getting married, pregnancy, divorce/separation and reduced income decreased PA. In contrast, starting a new personal relationship, returning to study and harassment at work increased PA. In middle-aged women, changing work conditions, reduced income, personal achievement and death of a spouse/partner increased PA, while experiencing violence and a family member being arrested or jailed decreased PA. In older women, moving into an institution and interpersonal loss decreased PA, while longer-term widowhood increased PA. In addition, experiencing multiple simultaneous life events decreased PA in men and women.Major life events have a strong effect on leisure PA behaviour. Consequently, people experiencing life events could be an important target group for PA promotion. More research is needed to examine the short- and longterm effects of different life events on PA, gender differences in the effects of life events and the specific determinants of PA change during life events.

Twenty-five-year trends in physical activity of 30- to 59-year-old populations in eastern Finland.

PURPOSEnThe purpose of this study was to determine the 25-yr trends in leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), occupational activity (OPA), and commuting activity (CA) in the middle-aged population.nnnMETHODSnSix independent cross-sectional surveys were carried out at 5-yr intervals in the population living in eastern Finland (1972-1997). The common age range of the surveys was 30-59 yr, and the participation rates varied between 70 and 96%. LTPA, OPA, and CA were determined by a self-administered questionnaire. Based on their answers, the people were categorized into high, moderate, and low groups.nnnRESULTSnThe percentage of people who were completely sedentary during their leisure time decreased in both men and women. The estimated average 5-yr decrease was greater in women (-6%) than in men (-3%). Men showed only significant changes in high LTPA (+2.2%), whereas in women both moderate (+4.1%) and high (+1.8%) LTPA increased linearly. The percentage of people with low OPA linearly increased in both men (+3.5%) and women (+3.3%) The proportion of men with high OPA decreased in men (-3.2%) as well as in women (-2.6%). The increase in low CA in men (+5.9%) was twice as great as that in women (+2.6%). Men and women with high OPA increased their LTPA by the greatest extent. In both genders, the increase was almost twice as great as among groups classified as being less active during working hours. The prevalence of people who reported low in all three categories (OPA, LTPA, and CA) remained at the same level (6-8% in men, 7-9% in women).nnnCONCLUSIONnThe proportion of the Eastern Finnish populations classified as sedentary or having only moderate physical activity during their leisure time is still very high among both men (75%) and women (82%), even though the percentage of highly active people increased between 1972 and 1997.

Comparison of dietary and non-dietary risk factors in overweight and normal-weight Chinese adults

The aim of the present study was to compare the differences in dietary and non-dietary factors contributing to normal weight and overweight among urban Chinese adults. Two cross-sectional population surveys were carried out in Tianjin, one of the largest cities in China. A total of 2631 subjects aged 25-64 years were selected by random stratified cluster sampling; 398 men and 490 women were overweight, and 886 men and 857 women were of normal weight. The diet was assessed by food weighing plus consecutive individual 3 d food records. Health-related behaviours and anthropometry were assessed. The overweight group had significantly higher mean daily intakes of energy and carbohydrate than the normal-weight group. Overweight men also had significantly higher mean daily intakes of protein and fat than normal-weight men. Age, daily intakes of energy and carbohydrate, and marital status were positively associated with overweight, while occupational and commuting physical activity, as well as smoking, were inversely associated with overweight among both genders. Daily intakes of protein, fat and alcohol were positively related to the incidence of being overweight among men. People with 7-12 years education were more likely to be overweight compared with those with less than 6 years of education. High intakes of energy and carbohydrate among both genders, as well as high intakes of protein and fat among men, and lower levels of occupational and commuting physical activity, being a non-smoker, and partly higher socio-economic status were related to a greater incidence of being overweight in this population.

Physical activity during leisure and commuting in Tianjin, China

OBJECTIVEnTo 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.nnnMETHODSnIn 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.nnnFINDINGSnNo 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.nnnCONCLUSIONnPeople in Tianjin engaged in a high level of physical activity when commuting and a low level of leisure-time physical activity.

Influence of the menstrual cycle and oral contraceptives on thermoregulatory responses to exercise in young women

SummaryThermoregulatory responses to exercise in relation to the phase of the menstrual cycle were studied in ten women taking oral contraceptives (P) and in ten women not taking oral contraceptives (NP). Each subject was tested for maximal aerobic capacity (n

Low physical activity as a predictor for antihypertensive drug treatment in 25-64-year-old populations in eastern and south-western Finland.

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Twenty-five-year trends in lifestyle and socioeconomic characteristics in Eastern Finland.

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