Changes in Physical Activity Involvement and Attitude to Physical Activity in a 16-Year Follow-Up Study among the Elderly

Table 1

Physical activity (frequency and intensity) among men and women aged 64–74 years at baseline and in 8- and 16-year follow-up studies, (%, 𝑃).

Physical activity	All	8-year follow-up			16-year follow-up
	1988	1988	1996	McNemar test^a, 𝑃	1988	1996	2004	Cochran Q-test^b, 𝑃
Men	𝑛=237	𝑛=144	𝑛=144		𝑛=67	𝑛=67	𝑛=67
Necessary chores	18.1	9.7	19.5		7.6	10.6	22.5
Walking 1-2 times/week	10.5	13.2	10.4	.170	12.1	10.6	9.4	.030
Walking several times/week	42.6	45.8	45.8		39.4	47.0	32.8
1-2 times/week to the point of perspiring; and heavy breathing	8.4	9.0	6.3		9.1	6.1	14.1
Several times/week to the point of perspiring and heavy breathing	16.5	18.8	15.3		28.8	19.7	17.2
Keep-fit training or competitive sport several; times a week	3.8	3.5	2.8		3.0	6.1	3.1
	100.0	100.0	100.0		100.0	100.0	100.0
Women	𝑛=390	𝑛=255	𝑛=255		𝑛=132	𝑛=132	𝑛=132
Necessary chores	20.3	15.3	27.9		15.4	22.7	37.9
Walking 1-2 times/week	16.2	16.1	14.5	.002	16.2	12.9	18.9	.001
Walking several times/week	45.6	45.5	47.5		42.3	53.0	34.8
1-2 times/week to the point of perspiring; and heavy breathing	56	5.5	2.4		6.2	3.0	4.5
Several times/week to the point of perspiring and heavy breathing	11.3	16.1	6.7		18.5	6.8	3.8
Keep-fit training or competitive sport several; times a week	1.0	1.6	1.2		1.5	1.5	—
	100.0	100.0	100.0		100.0	100.0	100.0

^aPhysical activity is divided into two categories (1 = only in necessary chores or walking 1-2 times/week and 2 = walking at least several times/week) because of the few number of responses in some categories.