LEVELS OF PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY, PHYSICAL-FITNESS AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP IN THE NORTHERN-IRELAND HEALTH AND ACTIVITY SURVEY

The aim of the study was to describe the physical activity and physica l fitness profile of the population of Northern Ireland and to explore the relationship between physical activity and physical fitness. This was a cross sectional population study using a two stage probability sample of the adult population of Northern Ireland (aged 16+). The mai n outcome measures were physical activity profile based on computer as sisted interview. Physical fitness using estimation of (V) over dotO(2 )max by extrapolation from submaximal oxygen uptake while walking on a motor driven treadmill. We found that males were more vigorously acti ve than females (M 21 %:F6 %) with a steep gradient of decreasing acti vity with age: 49 % (M 52 %:F46 %) were regularly active up to at leas t moderate intensity. Males (mean predicted (V) over dotO(2)max 44.4 m ls/kg/min; 16-74 years) were fitter than females (mean predicted (V) o ver dotO(2)max 34.0 mls/kg/min; 16-74 years) and while there was a dec line in predicted (V) over dot O(2)max with age, there was wide variat ion within each age category. There was no statistically significant r elationship between current or past activity and fitness after adjustm ent for possible confounding factors, with the exception of a relation ship between fitness and activity in males so that the difference betw een no activity and habitual Vigorous activity in predicted (V) over d otO(2)max was 4.4 mls/kg/min (10.1 %).