Physical activity and cardiovascular risk factors in a developing population

Purpose: Noncommunicable diseases are emerging in developing countries. How ever, few studies have been conducted in those countries to evaluate the ro le of physical activity in the development of cardiovascular diseases. This study investigated physical activity and its relationship to risk factors for cardiovascular disease in a large population (N = 799) of civil servant s from Benin City, Nigeria. Methods: Physical activity levels were estimate d by an interviewer-administered questionnaire, which determined the averag e hours per week over the past year spent in occupational and leisure activ ities. Time spent walking or biking to work was assessed is well. Other maj or measures included body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR), blood pr essures, plasma insulin level, lipid profiles, and diet. Results: More of t he physical activity was attributed to occupational than to leisure activit ies. Compared with women, men had a higher activity level. No significant t rend was observed across age groups. Male senior staff (a marker of higher socioeconomic status) had a lower physical activity level than male junior staff. Physical activity, especially time walking or biking to work, was in versely correlated with weight, BMI, WHIZ, blood pressures, insulin, total cholesterol, LDL and HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides in men, while such correlations were not consistent in women. In multivariate analysis in men, blood pressure and insulin were independently associated with BMI but not with walking, while an independent inverse association was seen between wal king and BMI. Conclusion: Lack of physical activity was associated with adv erse risk profiles for cardiovascular disease in this developing population .