Physical activity of subjects aged 50-64 years involved in the European Prospective Investigation into XXXX and Nutrition (EPIC).

@entity1 @entity5
OBJECTIVE: To describe physical activity of @entity1 in the European Prospective Investigation into @entity5 and Nutrition (EPIC). DESIGN: A cross-sectional analysis of baseline data of a European prospective cohort study. SUBJECTS: This analysis was restricted to @entity1 in the age group 50-64 years, which was represented in all EPIC centres. It involved 236 386 @entity1 from 25 centres in nine countries. In each EPIC centre, physical activity was assessed by standardised and validated questions. Frequency distribution of type of professional activity and participation in non-professional activities, and age-adjusted means, medians and percentiles of time dedicated to non-professional activities are presented for @entity1 and @entity1 from each centre. RESULTS: Professional activity was most frequently classified as sedentary or standing in all centres. There was a wide variation regarding participation in different types of non-professional activities and time dedicated to these activities across EPIC centres. Over 80% of all EPIC @entity1 engaged in walking, while less than 50% of the subjects participated in sport. Total time dedicated to recreational activities was highest among the Dutch @entity1 and lowest among @entity1 from Malm   (Sweden) and @entity1 from Naples (Italy). In all centres, total time dedicated to recreational activity in the summer was higher than in the winter. @entity1 from southern Europe spent the most time on housekeeping. CONCLUSIONS: There is a considerable variation of physical activity across EPIC centres. This variation was especially evident for recreational activities in both @entity1 and @entity1 .
