Self-rated measures of physical activity and cardiovascular risk in a sample of Southern Italian male workers: the Olivetti heart study.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The number of people who are overweight, obese and/or lead a sedentary lifestyle is increasing, and numerous studies have shown that physical activity has beneficial cardiovascular effects. METHODS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between physical activity and the anthropometric, cardiovascular and metabolic variables involved in coronary risk. The study population consisted of 1075 adult men aged 25-75 years, all of whom were workers in Olivetti factories. Physical activity was assessed by means of a questionnaire and the sample was divided into two groups: those practising sport and those who said they were sedentary. RESULTS: Age-adjusted BMI was higher in the participants practising sport, whereas the values of all of the remaining variables (i.e. abdominal circumference, skinfolds, heart rate, blood pressure, serum cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose, insulin and HOMA) were lower; however, the only statistically significant differences were in heart rate and blood pressure. After the subjects were classified as being normal weight, overweight or obese on the basis of BMI, the active participants tended to have lower values for all of the parameters than their sedentary counterparts in each BMI category. In a subgroup undergoing OGTT, glucose and insulin levels at T0 and T60 were significantly lower in the active participants. CONCLUSIONS: These findings confirm the usefulness of physical activity in preventing cardiovascular disease.