mrepo:topics:adulthealthbehaviours_physicalactivity

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Self-reported information on adult physical activity levels has been collected at ages 31, 36, 43, 53, 60-64 and 68-70 years.

At ages 36 and 43, questions on the frequency and duration of participation in a range of leisure time activities and sports, outdoor activities and exercise (including work-related activity) in the previous month were collected by nurse interviewers during home visits.

Using data at age 36 years (1982), a set of four physical activity variables have been derived (see Kuh et al 1992). These are:

  • physical activity during the working day
  • cycling and walking
  • heavy gardening and DIY
  • sports and recreational activities

Each of these variables categorises people into three groups from inactive through to most active, except for physical activity during the working day which categorises people into four groups. The thre-category variables are grouped as:

  • No such activity in the past four weeks
  • One - four times in the past four weeks
  • Five or more times in the past four weeks

At age 43 years a similar summary variable was derived for sports and recreational activities.

These derived variables have been recoded so that 0 is always least active, 1 is less active and 2 is most active (except for the physical activity during the working day variable, where an additional variable has been created to be coded in the same way but the 4 category variable is also available).

In 1999 and 2014-15, at age 53 and 68-69, a single, 3 part question on participation in sports, vigorous leisure activities or any exercises in spare time not including getting to and from work in the past 4 weeks was asked as part of the CAPI interview. Cohort members reported whether or not they participated in any such activities, how many occasions in the last 4 weeks they had done these activities and the number of occasions on which exercise made them sweaty or out of breath. These variables were used to derive a 3 category variable equivalent to similar variables on sports and recreational activity at ages 36 and 43 years.

In 2006-10, at age 60-64, study members were asked to complete a pre-assessment questionnaire. This contained questions on physical activity associated with work and commuting, as well as frequency of a range of activities, such as sports, gym, team games, DIY, gardening and household chores in the last 12 months. Study members were also invited to wear a CamNtech Actiheart monitor for 7 days. The Actiheart has two clips which attach directly to standard ECG electrodes and was worn on the chest. It was used to measure activity levels and heart rates.

In 2015, at age 69, study members were given the option to complete and wear an accelerometer for 7 days. The activity questionnaire included questions on typical levels of activity, frequency of various activities, past activity, falls, joints and bones. The accelerometer, Gulf Coast Data Concepts X16-1C, was worn on the hip and was used to measured movement and impact of activity during habitual physical activity. A time sheet was also completed, so the time the monitor was not worn could be documented.

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