Physical activity and cardiovascular risk factors in China

There is good evidence that regular physical activity has a protective effect against several chronic diseases, including coronary heart disease, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis, colon cancer, depression and anxiety. Physical activity levels, including occupational and commuting physical activity, have decreased in recent years in China. Physical activity among Chinese urban people is very different in comparison to the Western populations. Walking or cycling to and from work and school constituted a large component of daily activities among the majority of Chinese urban population. Low level of leisure time physical activity was common in Chinese urban population. People with more daily walking or cycling to and from work and leisure time physical activity had lower levels of cardiovascular risk factors, including low levels of body mass index, blood pressure, total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride, high level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low prevalence of overweight, hypertension, and smoking. Regular leisure time physical activity reduced the risk of total, cancer, respiratory and cardiovascular deaths and daily walking or cycling to and from work also decreased the risk of colon cancer.