[Trends when it comes to occupational physical activity among Norwegians aged 40-42 years during the period 1974-94].
BACKGROUND
The increasing occurrence of obesity in Norway led us to study trends in occupational physical activity.


METHODS
Population health screenings were conducted in three mainly rural Norwegian counties 1974-88, in all counties except Oslo 1985-94, and in a broad age group in Nord-Trøndelag 1995-97. The National Health Screening Service measured occupational physical activity by a question with four alternative answers, reflecting sedentary, light, moderate or heavy physical work.


RESULTS
In the 1970s, 20-26% of 40-year-old men in three predominantly rural counties reported sedentary work, increasing to 30-40% in the 1990s. Among women there was a similar increase from 10% to approximately 30%, while light physical activity decreased from near 70% to 50%. Heavy physical work decreased from 20-30% to 15% among men and from less than 10% to less than 5% among women. Heavy physical work was most common in rural areas. The survey in Nord-Trøndelag showed that differences by age were small in adults beyond 64 years age. Sedentary work was associated with the lowest rates of smoking, and heavy physical work with less good health.


CONCLUSIONS
Occupational physical activity was markedly reduced in middle-aged Norwegian men and women from 1974 to 1994.
Graff-Iversen
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Statens helseundersøkelser Postboks 8155 Dep 0033 Oslo. sidsel.graff-iversen@shus.no
Skurtveit
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S
Nybø
A
A
Ross
G B
GB
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D009787:Occupational Medicine / Q000266:history / Q000639:trends*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014937:Work