Association between levels of physical activity and poor self-rated health in Korean adults: The Third Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), 2005.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the association between level of physical activity and poor self-rated health in Korean adults.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted on 7,800 adults aged > or =19 years who completed the Health Interview and the Health Behavior Surveys, issued during the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2005).


METHODS
The association between self-rated health and physical activity was tested using Chi-squared test. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to calculate the odds ratios of poor self-rated health for different levels of physical activity after adjusting for physical and chronic medical conditions.


RESULTS
The prevalence of poor self-rated health was significantly lower as the level of physical activity increased, and odds ratios for poor self-rated health were significantly lower for higher levels of physical activity after adjusting for age, marital status, educational status, smoking, alcohol consumption, and the number of physical impairments and chronic medical conditions. The association was similar in different age groups and among healthy respondents and respondents with physical impairments or chronic medical conditions.


CONCLUSIONS
Physical activity was positively associated with self-rated health in Koreans. The independent association between a lower level of physical activity and poor self-rated health supports public health programmes that encourage regular physical activity.
National Cancer Control Research Institute, National Cancer Centre, Goyang, Republic of Korea.
M A
MA
Han
K S
KS
Kim
J
J
Park
M G
MG
Kang
S Y
SY
Ryu
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007723:Korea; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult