Table 2.
Characteristics at baseline (survey 1) according to physical activity at age 50. Values are means (SD) or number (percentage) of men
| Variable and category | Physical activity level | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Low (n=325) | Moderate (n=802) | High (n=1078) | |
| Age (years) | 49.6 (0.6) | 49.6 (0.6) | 49.7 (0.6) |
| Weight (kg) | 78.7 (12.8) | 77.3 (11.1) | 77.8 (10.6) |
| Height (cm) | 175.9 (6.1) | 176.0 (6.0) | 176.5 (5.8) |
| Body mass index (kg/m2) | 25.4 (3.7) | 24.9 (3.2) | 25.0 (3.1) |
| No (%) obese* | 40 (12.3) | 41 (5.1) | 62 (5.8) |
| Supine systolic blood pressure (mm Hg) | 133 (19) | 134 (18) | 132 (17) |
| Supine diastolic blood pressure (mm Hg) | 83 (12) | 84 (11) | 83 (11) |
| No (%) taking antihypertensive drugs | 18 (5.5) | 38 (4.7) | 37 (3.4) |
| Total serum cholesterol (mmol/l) | 6.95 (1.32) | 6.93 (1.33) | 6.83 (1.30) |
| No (%) with self rated good health | 242 (74.5) | 641 (79.9) | 902 (83.7) |
| No (%) by smoking status: | |||
| Never smoker | 66 (20.3) | 196 (24.4) | 296 (27.5) |
| Former smoker | 61 (18.8) | 181 (22.6) | 281 (26.1) |
| Current smoker | 198 (60.9) | 425 (53.0) | 501 (46.5) |
| No (%) by occupational physical activity in 1970: | |||
| Sedentary | 33 (10.2) | 86 (10.7) | 139 (12.9) |
| Light | 101 (31.1) | 255 (31.8) | 380 (35.3) |
| Medium | 39 (12.0) | 100 (12.5) | 126 (11.7) |
| High | 36 (11.1) | 86 (10.7) | 111 (10.3) |
| Unemployed/unknown | 116 (35.7) | 275 (34.3) | 322 (29.9) |
*BMI ≥30 kg/m2.