Physical activity according to ethnic origin in Finnmark county, Norway. The Finnmark Study.
OBJECTIVE
Is there a difference in self-reported physical activity between the Norse and Sami population, and could the activity levels have been differently reported in the two ethnic groups?


METHODS
Cross-sectional, population-based study. In addition, we performed interviews to validate the questions used in the survey to measure physical activity.


METHODS
Finnmark County, Norway.


METHODS
866 men and 860 women of Sami origin, and 4105 men and 3948 women of Norse origin. Attendance rate 77.7%. In addition, we interviewed ten Sami-speaking and seven Norwegian-speaking persons about physical activity.


RESULTS
Among men, the two ethnic groups differed in leisure time physical activity (chi" = 11.462, p = 0.009). Sami women were less active than Norse women in leisure time (chi" = 21.568, p < 0.001). Both Sami men and women were significantly more active during work than Norse persons (chi" = 93.819, p < 0.001 for men and chi" = 59.323, p < 0.001 for women).


CONCLUSIONS
Sami men and women were more physically active at work and had a higher total physical activity score than Norse men and women. The variables used to measure different aspect of physical activity seem to be valid in a diverse ethnic population.
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D012307:Risk Factors