Regular articleAssociations between recommended levels of physical activity and health-related quality of life Findings from the 2001 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey
Introduction
The Healthy People 2010 national health objectives aim to increase the quality of life and years of healthy life for all persons in the United States [1]. Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) has evolved to include aspects of life that affect perceived physical or mental health [2], and it is a fundamental measure used to understand the health status of a population [3].
The benefits of physical activity on health are well documented. Regular physical activity is associated with a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, selected cancers, and all-cause mortality [4]. In addition, physical activity has favorable effects on blood pressure, lipid and lipoprotein profiles, weight control and body fat distribution, as well as on mental health and psychological well-being [4].
Although the benefits of regular physical activity on health are well accepted, the relationships between recommended levels of physical activity and HRQOL have not been described adequately. Prior studies of physical activity and HRQOL have included relatively small sample sizes, and few studies have examined these relationships among the general population. The objective of this study was to examine whether recommended levels of physical activity were associated with improved HRQOL using data from the 2001 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS).
Section snippets
Methods
The BRFSS is a state-based surveillance system supported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A detailed description of the survey design and random sampling procedures is available elsewhere [5]. Briefly, the surveillance system collects data on many of the behaviors and conditions that place adults (aged ≥18 years) at risk for chronic disease. Trained interviewers collect data on a monthly basis using an independent probability sample of households with telephones
Results
The proportion of adults who attained recommended levels of physical activity (i.e., physical activity level III) ranged from 37.5% among adults aged 65 years or older to 50.2% in those aged 18–44 years. Across all age groups, adults who met the recommended levels of moderate or vigorous physical activity were more likely to be men, white non-Hispanic, more educated, non-smokers, and non-obese (body mass index < 30 kg/m2), and less likely to report arthritis or activity limitation due to health
Discussion
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the relationship between currently recommended levels of moderate or vigorous physical activity and HRQOL. Previous research has demonstrated the beneficial effects of regular physical activity on the risk of morbidity and mortality. However, these traditional outcome measures, while critical to our understanding of disease burden, do not include all aspects of an individual's health, such as psychosocial well-being or perceived
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Mr. Brown was a contractor [TRW Systems, Inc.] to BSB/DACH/NCCDPHP/CDC at the time this work was completed.