title: Patterns, levels and correlates of self-reported physical activity in urban black Soweto women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Urban black South African women have a high prevalence of non-communicable diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study was to assess the physical activity patterns of a cohort of middle-aged urban-dwelling black African women and to determine if physical activity is associated with anthropometric measures and metabolic outcomes in this population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Physical activity and sitting time were assessed using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) in a cross-sectional study of 977 black African women (mean age 41.0 ± 7.84 years) from the Birth to Twenty study based in Soweto, Johannesburg. Anthropometric outcomes were measured and fasting blood glucose, insulin and lipid profile were analysed to determine metabolic disease risk and prevalence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-seven percent of the population were classified as active according to GPAQ criteria, and the domain that contributed most to overall weekly physical activity was walking for travel. Only 45.0% of women participated in leisure time activity. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in this sample was 40.0%, and the prevalence of overweight and obesity was 29.2% and 48.0%, respectively. Women who reported owning a motor vehicle walked for travel less, and participated in more leisure-time activity (both p < 0.01), while women who owned a television reported significantly lower moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and walking for travel (both p < 0.01). Sitting time (mins/wk) was not different between the activity groups, but was associated with triglycerides and diastolic blood pressure. Total physical activity was inversely associated with fasting insulin, and physical activity in the work domain was associated with fat free soft tissue mass.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of this study show that the majority of urban dwelling black South African women are classified as physically active despite a high prevalence of obesity and metabolic disease risk factors. Sitting time had detrimental effects on both triglyceride levels and diastolic blood pressure whilst total physical activity attenuated fasting insulin levels. As walking for travel is a major contributor to physical activity, future research should attempt to determine whether the intensity of this activity plays a role in the prevention of cardiometabolic diseases.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine (CESSM), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. philippe.gradidge@wits.ac.za.
authors.forename: Philippe Jean-Luc
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Gradidge
authors.forename: Nigel J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Crowther
authors.forename: Esnat D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Chirwa
authors.forename: Shane A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Norris
authors.forename: Lisa K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Micklesfield
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008055:Lipids; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D057566:Self Report; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016138:Walking
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D014280:Triglycerides