Elsevier

Preventive Medicine

Volume 37, Issue 5, November 2003, Pages 520-528
Preventive Medicine

Regular article
Associations between recommended levels of physical activity and health-related quality of life Findings from the 2001 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0091-7435(03)00179-8Get rights and content

Abstract

Background

Although the benefits of regular physical activity on morbidity and mortality are established, relationships between recommended levels of physical activity and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) have not been described. The authors examined whether recommended levels of physical activity were associated with better HRQOL and perceived health status.

Methods

Using data from 175,850 adults who participated in the 2001 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey, the authors examined the independent relationship between recommended levels of moderate or vigorous physical activity and four measures of HRQOL developed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Multivariate logistic regression was used to obtain odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, sex, education, smoking status, and body mass index.

Results

The proportion of adults reporting 14 or more unhealthy days (physical or mental) was significantly lower among those who attained recommended levels of physical activity than physically inactive adults for all age, racial/ethnic, and sex groups. After multivariate adjustment, the relative odds of 14 or more unhealthy days (physical or mental) in those with the recommended level of activity compared to physically inactive adults was 0.67 (95% CI: 0.60, 0.74) for adults aged 18–44 years, 0.40 (95% CI: 0.36, 0.45) for adults aged 45–64 years, and 0.41 (95% CI: 0.36, 0.46) for adults aged 65 years or older. The results persist even among adults with a chronic condition such as arthritis.

Conclusion

These results highlight the need for health programs to increase participation in regular physical activity.

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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