Perceived need to increase physical activity levels among adults at high risk of type 2 diabetes. A cross-sectional analysis within a community-based diabetes prevention project FIN-D2D

Table 1 Characteristics of the study population

	Men (n = 2 577)	Women (n = 4 551)
	%	%
Age (years)
<45	14	13
45-54	32	30
55-64	20	21
≥65	34	35
Marital status***
Married/cohabiting	77	72
Other	23	28
Educational level
Low	41	39
Intermediate	50	53
High	9	9
Occupational status***
Manual work	34	9
Non-manual work	25	44
Retired	34	35
Not employed	7	13
Family history of diabetes¹***	57	66
Elevated blood pressure²***	88	82
Dyslipidaemia³***	30	40
Obesity⁴***	57	63
Waist circumference⁵***
Normal	8	3
Elevated risk	22	10
High risk	70	87
Currently smoking⁶***	23	15
Physically inactive⁷	65	65
Self-rated fitness*
Low	22	25
Satisfactory	50	48
High	28	27
Stage of change***
Precontemplation	11	7
Contemplation	29	24
Preparation	39	46
Action	12	14
Maintenance	9	9
Physical activity level perceived as sufficient*	33	30
Perceives the need to increase physical activity level	74	76

¹ At least one of the first-degree relatives had diabetes (type 1 or 2).
² Systolic blood pressure ≥130 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥85 mmHg.
³ HDL < 1.03 mmol/l (men), <1.29 mmol/l (women); LDL ≥ 3 mmol/l or/and triglycerides ≥ 1.7 mmol/l, or medication for these lipid abnormalities.
⁴ Body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m².
⁵ Normal: <94 cm (m), <80 cm (w); elevated risk: 94-101 cm (m), 80-87 cm (w); high risk: ≥102 cm (m), ≥88 cm (w).
⁶ Includes occasional and regular smokers.
⁷ Engaging in physical exercise <30 minutes three times a week.
* p < 0.05 (for the statistical difference between the sexes).
** p < 0.01.
*** p <0.001.

ISSN: 1471-2458