[Every step counts: what is the physical activity level of our patients? A pedometer study]

The prevalence of obesity is increaseing worldwide and thus enhancing the development of the chronic diseases. Physical activity represents not only an important modulator of the energy balance but physical exercise represents a key feature for chronic disease risk reduction independently from body weight. In this study we assessed physical activity by counting the steps with the help of a pedometer in 49 consecutive patients (33 women and 16 men) of the obesity- and hypertension clinic at the Medical Policlinic at the University Hospital in Zurich. 29 of the patients were obese (mean +/- SD BMI 35.3 +/- 5.5 kg/m(2)), eleven overweight (27.6 +/- 1.1 kg/m(2)) and eight of normal body weight (22.7 +/- 1.5 kg/m(2)) according to the WHO-classification. The mean +/- SD steps per week of the whole population was 67917 +/- 33856. Patients with a normal weight had more steps per week, but the difference did not reach significance as compared to the overweight or obese subjects. Only on Sunday the normal weighted patients had significantly more steps than the other groups. The data suggest that strategies to enhance physical activity on the weekend should be encouraged in all subjects, especially however in those with an increased body weight.