Fisieke fiksheid en fisieke aktiwiteit by Suid-Afrikaanse vroue

Abstract

Physical activity and physical fitness have several advantages for health. The objective of this research was to study the physical activity and fitness profiles of South African women in their different ethnic groups as well as to analyse their participation in physical activity, their physical fitness and their chronic medication. Subjects between the ages of 30 and 60 years (x=41.0; SA=4.6) who were part of a non-random availability population who voluntarily participated, were used in the study. The group who formed part of the physical activity survey included 1415 white, 1357 black, 239 coloured and 262 Asian women. The group who formed part of the physical fitness survey included 1225 white, 1015 black, 199 coloured and 248 Asian women. According to the results of the total group, coloured women appear to be the most physically inactive (85%). They are followed by the black and Asian women (83%), while the lowest incidence of physical inactiveness is among white women (75%). White women also have the highest percentage of individuals in the highly active group (10%), while coloured women represent the lowest percentage (5%). 8% of black women and 6% of Asian women are highly active. It appears that the greatest percentage of black women have a low fitness level (57%). In the study, 50% of Asian women, 49% of coloured women and 39% of white women present with low physical fitness levels. It appears that 10% of white, 6% of Asian and coloured women and 5% of black women are physically highly fit. Clearly, a great percentage of South African women have low levels of physical activity and physical fitness levels. Use of medication was determined through the register of the medical aid fund in question. The chronic use of medication of each subject was indicated as provided by the register for chronic medication of the medical aid fund. The survey showed that some respondents used up to 7 different medications for various conditions. The group that formed part of the physical activity survey included 3273 subjects and the group for the physical fitness survey included 925 subjects. In the study, a distinction is made between total chronic medication use and the use of medication for conditions that are affected by exercise, including hypertension, cholesterol, diabetes mellitus type 2 and ischemic heart diseases. The results revealed that women who are less active use more chronic mediation than those who are moderately or very active. This tendency was in observed among both pre- and postmenopausal women, with total chronic use as well as medication use for conditions affected by exercise. Increased use of medication is observed among both pre- and post-menopausal women who perform at low levels in the physical fitness testing, among the total chronic medication use as well as among medication use for health conditions that are affected by exercise.