title: Leisure time physical activity in a 22-year follow-up among Finnish adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to explore long-term predictors of leisure time physical activity in the general population.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study comprised 718 men and women who participated in the national Mini-Finland Health Survey from 1978-1980 and were re-examined in 2001. Participants were aged 30-80 at baseline. Measurements included interviews, health examinations, and self-administered questionnaires, with information on socioeconomic position, occupational and leisure time physical activity, physical fitness, body mass index, smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical functional capacity. Analyses included persons who were working and had no limitations in functional capacity at baseline.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The strongest predictor of being physically active at the follow-up was participation in physical activity at baseline, with an OR 13.82 (95%CI 5.50-34.70) for 3 or more types of regular activity, OR 2.33 (95%CI 1.22-4.47) for 1-2 types of regular activity, and OR 3.26 (95%CI 2.07-5.15) for irregular activity, as compared to no activity. Other determinants for being physically active were moving upwards in occupational status, a high level of baseline occupational physical activity and remaining healthy weight during the follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To prevent physical inactivity among older adults, it is important to promote physical activity already in young adulthood and in middle age and to emphasize the importance of participating in many types of physical activity.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Health and Welfare, PO Box 30, Helsinki FI-00271, Finland. Katja.Borodulin@thl.fi
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Borodulin
authors.forename: Tomi E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Mäkinen
authors.forename: Päivi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Leino-Arjas
authors.forename: Tuija H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Tammelin
authors.forename: Markku
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heliövaara
authors.forename: Tuija
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Martelin
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kestilä
authors.forename: Ritva
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Prättälä
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires