A1 Journal article (refereed)
Longitudinal leisure-time physical activity profiles throughout adulthood and related characteristics : a 36-year follow-up study of the older Finnish Twin Cohort (2024)
Berntzen, B. J., Tolvanen, A., Kujala, U. M., Silventoinen, K., Vuoksimaa, E., Kaprio, J., & Aaltonen, S. (2024). Longitudinal leisure-time physical activity profiles throughout adulthood and related characteristics : a 36-year follow-up study of the older Finnish Twin Cohort. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 21, Article 47. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-024-01600-y
JYU authors or editors
Publication details
All authors or editors: Berntzen, Bram J.; Tolvanen, Asko; Kujala, Urho M.; Silventoinen, Karri; Vuoksimaa, Eero; Kaprio, Jaakko; Aaltonen, Sari
Journal or series: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity
eISSN: 1479-5868
Publication year: 2024
Publication date: 26/04/2024
Volume: 21
Article number: 47
Publisher: BioMed Central
Publication country: United Kingdom
Publication language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-024-01600-y
Publication open access: Openly available
Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel
Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/94607
Abstract
Personalized interventions aiming to increase physical activity in individuals are effective. However, from a public health perspective, it would be important to stimulate physical activity in larger groups of people who share the vulnerability to be physically inactive throughout adulthood. To find these high-risk groups, we identified 36-year leisure-time physical activity profiles from young adulthood to late midlife in females and males. Moreover, we uncovered which anthropometric-, demographic-, lifestyle-, and health-related characteristics were associated with these physical activity profiles.
Methods
We included 2,778 females and 1,938 males from the population-based older Finnish Twin Cohort Study, who responded to health and behavior surveys at the mean ages of 24, 30, 40 and 60. Latent profile analysis was used to identify longitudinal leisure-time physical activity profiles.
Results
We found five longitudinal leisure-time physical activity profiles for both females and males. Females’ profiles were: 1) Low increasing moderate (29%), 2) Moderate stable (23%), 3) Very low increasing low (20%), 4) Low stable (20%) and 5) High increasing high (9%). Males’ profiles were: 1) Low increasing moderate (29%), 2) Low stable very low (26%), 3) Moderate decreasing low (21%), 4) High fluctuating high (17%) and 5) Very low stable (8%). In both females and males, lower leisure-time physical activity profiles were associated with lower education, higher body mass index, smoking, poorer perceived health, higher sedentary time, high blood pressure, and a higher risk for type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, lower leisure-time physical activity was linked to a higher risk of depression in females.
Conclusions
We found several longitudinal leisure-time physical activity profiles with unique changes in both sexes. Fewer profiles in females than in males remained or became low physically active during the 36-year follow-up. We observed that lower education, higher body mass index, and more smoking already in young adulthood were associated with low leisure-time physical activity profiles. However, the fact that several longitudinal profiles demonstrated a change in their physical activity behavior over time implies the potential for public health interventions to improve leisure-time physical activity levels.
Keywords: sports; exercises; longitudinal research; working age people
Free keywords: exercise; latent classes; longitudinal; sports; working-age individuals
Contributing organizations
Ministry reporting: Yes
Reporting Year: 2024
Preliminary JUFO rating: 3
