Elsevier

Annals of Epidemiology

Volume 3, Issue 6, November 1993, Pages 636-644
Annals of Epidemiology

Original report
Physical activity in young black and white women the CARDIA study

https://doi.org/10.1016/1047-2797(93)90087-KGet rights and content

Abstract

Total physical activity scores, based on level of participation in J3 types of activities for 2658 black and white women aged 18 to 30 years were examined in relation to demographic, health behavior, psychosocial, and obesity data to compare levels o f physical activity and determine reasons for disparities between blacks and whites. Black women had lower scores than white women-geometric mean of 178 (95% confidence interval (CI): 167, 189) versus 318 (95% CI: 305, 332). After controlling for age and education, physical activity was associated with physical activity level before high school, life events score, John Henryism, and competitiveness in both groups. In white women only, it was associated with alcohol intake and need to excel, and negatively associated with number of children, number of cigarettes smoked, and fatness. Race remained a predictor of physical activity after controlling for each variable. Relationships between physical activity and age, education, cigarette smoking, and life events differed significantly by race. Black women had lower physical activity levels than white women, which may contribute to higher rates of obesity and coronary heart disease. Racial differences in physical activity remain largely unexplained by the factors examined.

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    • Cumulative Marijuana Use and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness at Middle Age: The CARDIA Study

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      We cannot rule out residual confounding by tobacco smoking.9,16,30 It is possible that tobacco smokers who use marijuana are more likely to smoke a mix of tobacco and marijuana (“mulling”) and not report this as tobacco smoking.40 Unfortunately, CARDIA did not ask participants if they were “mulling,” but future studies should do so.

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    This work was supported by contracts NO1-HC-48047 through -48050 and NO1-HC-95095 from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

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