title: Leisure-time physical activity and other health behaviours: are they related?
abstract: Data on the associations between leisure-time physical activity and other health behaviours are conflicting. The National Heart Foundation 1989 Risk Factor Prevalence Survey data were analysed to examine the associations between leisure-time physical activity and other life-style health behaviours in a national representative sample with adjustment for potential confounders. Multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis using data from 9054 respondents aged 20 to 69 years showed that participation in leisure-time physical activity, even when it was not vigorous, was weakly associated with not smoking, following a special diet and moderate consumption of alcohol; it was inversely associated with obesity. These weak associations could influence health practices at a population level if, as has been hypothesised, the adoption of leisure activity promotes the adoption of other good health practices. Confirmation of earlier findings of cross-sectional associations between activity and other positive health practices justifies future prospective or experimental studies to determine the behavioural response to adoption of leisure-time physical activity.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Newcastle.
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Boyle
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Heller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012494:Sampling Studies