Abstract

A community survey examined attitudes to exercise in relation to health, measured levels of exercise participation, and related exercise participation to resting pulse rate. A questionnaire was sent to 400 Southampton residents selected by a systematic random sample from the electoral roll, and provided 259 useful responses, yielding an effective response rate of 68, with an average age of 46 years. Attitudes to health benefits of exercise were generally very positive; 92 thought that exercise was important for staying in good health. Attitudes were less positive in subjects over 50 years old, and in social classes IV and V. Although 35 had done some vigorous exercise during the last four weeks only 7 of social classes IV and V had done so. A total of 22 (8.5) had exercised for at least 20 minutes, 3 or more times per week, and 17 (77) of these were males with an average age of 29 years. Ninety per cent of the sample were able to take their own resting heart rate. Resting heart rate was 7 beat/min lower in subjects who exercised for at least 20 minutes 3 or more times per week than the average. Verf.-Referat