The impact of changes in leisure time physical activity on changes in cardiovascular risk factors: results from The Finnmark 3 Study and SAMINOR 1, 1987–2003

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the associations between changes in leisure time physical activity and changes in cardiovascular risk factors over 16 years and whether they differ between two ethnic groups in Norway. Methods: Data were extracted from two population-based studies. Altogether, 3671 men and women participated in both surveys, and 30% reported being of Sami ethnicity. Leisure time physical activity was self-reported, and cardiovascular risk factors were measured. ANCOVA analysis was used to examine associations between changes in physical activity and changes in cardiovascular risk factors. Results: After adjustment for age, sex, smoking, ethnicity and respective baseline values, favourable changes in body mass index (BMI) and levels of triglycerides were most pronounced in those who were active in both surveys (p < 0.05) whereas the opposite was the situation for cholesterol levels (p = 0.003). Changes in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and resting heart rate were not significantly associated with change in physical activity. Ethnicity did not influence the associations between physical activity and cardiovascular risk factors. Conclusion: Traditional cardiovascular risk factors were to a small extent associated with change in leisure time physical activity. Persistent physical activity was associated with beneficial changes in BMI and triglycerides.