Leisure time physical activity behavior in three British cities

This article provides baseline information on leisure time physical activity. The data were collected in 1989 by telephone in the cities of London, Glasgow and Edinburgh. Twenty-eight percent of the respondents living in London reported that they engage in physical activity for exercise three or more times per week. For Glasgow and Edinburgh these figures are 24% and 28% respectively. Female respondents, respondents in the lower occupational categories and older respondents exercised on average less than male respondents, respondents from the higher occupational categories and younger respondents. Walking was the most popular form of physical activity for exercise in the three cities, for all age groups, all occupational groups and both sexes. Female respondents, respondents from the lower occupational categories and older respondents engaged in less strenuous physical activities. The differences between groups were independent of the stringency of the definition of exercise. The data showed that levels of leisure time physical activity for exercise do not meet standards which are advocated internationally. However, the levels and patterns found are similar to those found in North American studies. It would appear that the differences between the two Scottish cities and London are small.