Physical activity and cardiovascular risk factors in a developing population

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Cardiovascular Health
• Exercise Science

Background:

• Noncommunicable diseases are rising in developing countries.
• Limited research exists on physical activity's role in cardiovascular disease (CVD) development in these regions.
• This study addresses the gap by examining physical activity and CVD risk factors in Nigerian civil servants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between physical activity levels and cardiovascular disease risk factors.
• To assess the impact of occupational and leisure physical activity on CVD risk.
• To analyze the association between physical activity and metabolic/biometric markers in a Nigerian population.

Main Methods:

• An interviewer-administered questionnaire assessed weekly physical activity (occupational, leisure, commuting).
• Key measures included body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR), blood pressure, plasma insulin, and lipid profiles.
• Dietary intake was also recorded for a comprehensive analysis.

Main Results:

• Physical activity was predominantly occupational; men were more active than women.
• Activity levels did not significantly vary by age group.
• Physical activity, particularly commuting by walking/biking, showed inverse correlations with weight, BMI, WHR, blood pressure, insulin, and lipids in men, but not consistently in women.

Conclusions:

• A lack of physical activity is associated with adverse cardiovascular disease risk profiles in this Nigerian population.
• Interventions promoting physical activity, especially commuting, could mitigate CVD risk.
• Findings highlight the importance of physical activity in the context of noncommunicable disease prevention in developing countries.