[Physical activity habits of primary care clinic patients]

764 registered clinic patients, between the ages of 18-60, in 2 primary-care clinics, filled out questionnaires about exercise habits. One clinic is in a moshav in which the population is principally of European origin and of high socioeconomic status. The other clinic is in a town in which the population is mainly of North African or Asian origin and of low socioeconomic status. Only 38.6% of those studied defined their work as involving physical or marked physical activity. These tended to be males 18-30 years old living on the moshav. Only 14.2% reported regular sports activity, none of whom were from the town. No differences were noted in sex or age-distribution. Women tended to engage in gymnastics, walking or folk-dancing; men in running or ball sports. Our results are similar to those of other studies which show that Israelis do not tend to engage regularly in sports. It is emphasized that health organizations should encourage sport activity by their members.