Fisieke aktiwiteit en enkele gesondheidsrisikofaktore by vroue

Abstract

Studies that examined the health risk indicators of South African women are limited, outdated or research was performed on only a small selected part of the population. The lifestyle of South African women in general has progressively become physical inactive due to their role in society as working women, as mothers, as wives and as managers of a household and of an employee (domestic help). This sedentary lifestyle can lead to the development of hypokinetic diseases which include risk factors for the development of coronary heart disease. Internationally, the focus with regard to women's health and dealing with risk factors such as high cholesterol, obesity, hypertension, smoking and physical inactivity has shifted from an emphasis on treating disease to a more preventive approach. In this respect, strategies therefore often focus on the prevention of migration from a present state of risk factors to a worse state. This study aimed at researching a section of South African women with regard to physical inactivity and some selected health risk indicators. The respondents comprised 4 040 (41.6 ± 12.8 years) women who belonged to an overarching medical scheme. Data were collected by means of a general information questionnaire, a physical activity questionnaire as well as field tests concerning total cholesterol concentration, blood pressure and BMI. The respondents were selected and divided into two age groups (<49 and > 50 years) representing the pre- and postmenopausal life phases of women. From the descriptive data it appears that the younger group (< 49 years) tends to be physically less active than