title: Reducing the impact of physical inactivity: evidence to support the case for targeting people with chronic mental and physical conditions.
abstract: Recent evidence suggests that small increases in the physical activity of those considered least active can have a bigger health impact than raising levels of those already achieving or close to achieving recommendations. Profiling the characteristics of those who are least active allows for appropriate targeting of interventions. This study therefore examined the characteristics of people in the lowest physical activity bracket.
  
  
  
  Data were taken from the Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRC) funded 'South Yorkshire Cohort', a longitudinal observational dataset of residents of South Yorkshire, England. Five separate outcomes based on a shortened version of the GPPAQ were used to represent the lowest levels of physical activity. Potential predictors examined were age, sex, body mass index, ethnicity, chronic conditions, current employment and deprivation. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were conducted.
  
  
  
  Individuals with chronic mental and physical conditions (fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, depression, diabetes, breathing problems, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and cancer) were more likely to report the lowest levels of physical activity across all five outcomes. Demographic variations were also observed.
  
  
  
  Targeting people with chronic mental and physical conditions has the potential to reduce the impact of physical inactivity.
authors: School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S1 4DA, UK.
authors: Emma S
authors: ES
authors: Everson-Hock
authors: School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S1 4DA, UK.
authors: Mark A
authors: MA
authors: Green
authors: School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S1 4DA, UK.
authors: Elizabeth C
authors: EC
authors: Goyder
authors: Centre for Sport and Exercise Science, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield S10 2BP, UK National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine, Sheffield, UK.
authors: Robert J
authors: RJ
authors: Copeland
authors: Sheffield Teaching Hospital NHS Trust, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield S10 2JF, UK Centre for Sports Engineering Research, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield S10 2BP, UK.
authors: Simon H
authors: SH
authors: Till
authors: Centre for Sports Engineering Research, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield S10 2BP, UK.
authors: Ben
authors: B
authors: Heller
authors: Sloan Medical Centre, Sheffield S8 0YH, UK.
authors: Ollie
authors: O
authors: Hart
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: chronic disease; physical activity; physical inactivity