Joint Effects of Physical Activity and BMI on Risk of Hypertension in Women: A Longitudinal Study
Table 2
Characteristics of study population at baseline, by baseline weight category.
Characteristic
Healthy weight () (%)
Overweight () (%)
Obese () (%)
Age, mean years (± SD)
47.5 (±1.4)
47.6 (±1.5)
47.6 (±1.5)
Marital status
Married/de facto
4253 (83.7)
2217 (85.8)
1115 (84.4)
Divorced/separated/widowed
667 (13.2)
289 (11.1)
158 (11.9)
Single
160 (3.2)
79 (3.1)
47 (3.6)
Education
No qualifications
677 (13.3)
480 (18.5)
324 (24.5)
School certificate
2440 (47.9)
1262 (48.6)
655 (49.4)
Trade/apprenticeship/higher education
1980 (38.9)
854 (32.9)
346 (26.1)
Physical activity*
High
970 (19.1)
402 (15.5)
154 (11.7)
Moderate
1397 (27.6)
664 (25.7)
278 (21.1)
Low
1509 (29.8)
809 (31.3)
435 (33.0)
Nil/sedentary
1191 (23.5)
713 (27.6)
451 (34.2)
Smoking
Never
2680 (54.0)
1338 (52.7)
688 (53.0)
Ex-smoker
1397 (28.1)
786 (30.9)
375 (28.9)
Current
886 (17.9)
417 (16.4)
235 (18.1)
Alcohol intake†
Low risk
2793 (55.1)
1276 (49.3)
512 (38.8)
None
642 (12.7)
375 (14.5)
233 (17.7)
Rarely
1362 (26.9)
811 (31.4)
516 (39.1)
Risky
268 (5.3)
124 (4.8)
58 (4.4)
History of diabetes
61 (1.2)
50 (1.9)
60 (4.5)
History of cardiovascular disease
99 (2.0)
56 (2.2)
33 (2.6)
Physical activity defined as nil/sedentary (0–39 metabolic equivalent (MET) min/wk), low (40–599 MET min/wk), moderate (600–1199 MET min/wk), and high (≥1200 MET min/wk). Alcohol intake defined as low-risk (up to 14 drinks per week), none, rarely (any alcohol consumption less than once a month), and “Risky” (≥15 to 28 drinks per week).
