A recent study reminds us that drastic social and life changes can impact healthy habits in our lives. A change in relationship status may be of significant impact. The study linked changes in relationships to physical exercise.
Amount of non-exercised steps was reduced over a 4 year time period
The amount of non-exercised steps was reduced over a 4 year time period for male individuals who divorced. Interestingly, for women who found a new spouse between the 4 year time period also had significant decreases in non-exercise steps recorded compared to women married throughout the time period.
Rationale for these findings
The rationale for these findings is unclear, and likely no specific factor can be pinpointed; however, it does underline the likely importance that relationships play on daily health activities. Also, it shows that the link between relationships and exercise may be different for men and women.
“It seems that the changes in relationships affect the physical activity of men and women differently,” says postdoctoral researcher Kasper Salin from the University of Jyväskylä, Faculty of Sports and Health Sciences.
Study also looked at socioeconomic status and changes in physical activity
The study also looked at socioeconomic status and changes in physical activity over time. Among men and women of the highest socioeconomic status, the amount of aerobic steps went up significantly over the 4 year time period. Aerobic steps was considered steps during activities that lasted at least 10 minutes without interruption with a pace of 60 steps or more a minute.
Study looked at roughly 1000 participants utilizing pedometer data
The study looked at roughly 1000 participants who provided valid pedometer data between 2007 and 2011. At the beginning of the monitoring period, the subjects were between the ages of 34 and 49. The total steps increased slightly during the 4 year follow-up period. In 2007, the recommended 10,000 daily steps reached one fifth (19 %) and in 2011 a quarter (25%) of the participants.
“Longer-term monitoring of objectively measured physical activity is rare,” says Salin. “The pedometer used in this study provides a more reliable picture of overall activity than, for example, a traditionally used questionnaire.”
Razi Berry is the founder and publisher of the journal Naturopathic Doctor News & Review that has been in print since 2005 and the premier consumer-faced website of naturopathic medicine, NaturalPath. She is the host of The Natural Cancer Prevention Summit and The Heart Revolution-Heal, Empower and Follow Your Heart, and the popular 10 week Sugar Free Summer program. From a near death experience as a young girl that healed her failing heart, to later overcoming infertility and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia through naturopathic medicine, Razi has lived the mind/body healing paradigm. Her projects uniquely capture the tradition and philosophy of naturopathy: The healing power of nature, the vital life force in every living thing and the undeniable role that science and mind/body medicine have in creating health and overcoming dis-ease. Follow Razi on Facebook at Razi Berry and join us at Love is Medicine to explore the convergence of love and health.
