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Daily steps among Finnish adults: Variation by age, sex, and socioeconomic position
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 08:19 authored by Hirvensalo, M, Telama, R, Schmidt, MD, Tammelin, TH, Yang, X, Costan Magnussen, Viikari, JSA, Raitakari, OTAims: The aim of this study was to provide descriptive population-based pedometer data from adults aged 30-45 years in Finland, and to compare daily step counts with evidence-based indices. Methods: The data was collected from 1853 participants in 7 consecutive days in winter 2007-08 in part of 27-year follow up of the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns study. Results: The participants took (mean+-standard deviation) 7499+-2908 steps/day. Step counts included 1925+-2052 aerobic steps/day gathered in bouts of at least 10 min continuous ambulatory activity.Women had more total steps than men ((7824+-2925 vs. 7089+-2774; p<0.001). Although participants had higher mean total steps on weekdays than on weekend days, they took more aerobic steps on weekend days than weekdays (p<0.001). High-level non-manual work, and unemployment were associated with having fewer total steps, but high-level non-manual workers had more aerobic steps than other occupation groups. According to pedometer thresholds proposed by Tudor-Locke and Basset, 26% of men and 16% of women could be classified as inactive (<5000 steps/day) and 20% of women and 15% of men would be classified as active (410,000 steps/day). Conclusions: We conclude that about one-quarter of men and one-fifth of women are considered as inactive, based on the number of daily total steps. Our results suggest that total steps may provide a very different picture of activity from aerobic steps; important differences are evident by socioeconomic position and day of the week.
History
Publication title
Scandinavian Journal of Public HealthVolume
39Issue
7Pagination
669-677ISSN
1403-4948Department/School
Menzies Institute for Medical ResearchPublisher
Taylor & Francis AsPlace of publication
Cort Adelersgt 17, Po Box 2562, Solli, Oslo, Norway, 0202Rights statement
Copyright 2011 the Nordic Societies of Public Health.Repository Status
- Restricted