The associations between daily steps and cardiovascular risk factors among female teachers

Abstract

Physical activity is an important component of cardiovascular health. The fact that physical activity is also associated with a substantial number of cognitive and academic benefits, therefore school teachers can be an important role model in promoting a physically-active lifestyle in school children. The aim of this study is to examine the levels of physical activity (PA) and its association with cardiovascular risk factors in a sample of school teachers. Forty-nine (n=49) female teachers from primary and secondary schools around Klang Valley urban areas were recruited. The PA level was determined using pedometer, worn for three consecutive days. Anthropometric measurements and blood samples were collected to determine cardiovascular risk factors. Findings showed that the school teachers recorded an overall mean (± SEM) of 7707 ± 490 steps/day, which is below the recommended target of 10 000 steps per day. According to pedometer-determined physical activity indices proposed by Tudor-Locke and Bassett (2004), 20.83% of the sample were classified as ‘sedentary’ (<5000 steps/day), 35.40% were ‘low active’ (5000 – 7499 steps/day) and only 18.70% achieved more than 10 000 steps/day. The mean values for waist circumference, fasting blood sugar, and cholesterol level, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were 83.96 ± 1.90 cm, 5.41 ± 0.26 mmol/l, 4.64±0.26 mmol/l, 118.90 ± 1.72 mmHg and 72.40±1.58 mmHg respectively. Fisher Exact Test shown that there were significant association between daily step and age category. Daily steps weakly negative correlated with systolic blood pressure (r = -0.024, p > 0.05) as well as blood sugar levels (r = -0.061, p> 0.05), diastolic blood pressure (r = -0.079, p> 0.05), body mass index (r = -0.271, p> 0.05), waist circumference (r = -0.196, p> 0.05), as well as blood cholesterol levels (r = -0.037, p> 0.05). In conclusion, there were weak negative correlations between steps per day and cardiovascular risk factors. Generally, the level of physical activity in the sample of female workers were low moderate active. Therefore, should be an interventions programme in promoting PA.