Study: Cork people are Ireland’s most active

CORK people lead the way when it comes to being active, according to a study by the Department of Sport and Exercise Medicine at University College Cork and the Rheumatology Department at Cork University Hospital.

The joint study found that staying fit and looking smart is the main motivation for exercising among adults, but that being “too busy” is a barrier.

According to the research, which looked at involvement and attitudes towards physical activity among Cork city’s adult population,

nSix-in-10 are leading an active lifestyle, compared with four in 10 nationally (the latter is based on a lifestyle survey carried out in 2007).

nMore than a third do more than 20 minutes of vigorous activity at least three days per week.

nApproximately one-in-five do 30 minutes of moderate activity at least five days per week.

However almost three-in-five said lack of time was the most common barrier to physical activity.

The study, which canvassed 107 adults both male and female in their mid-30s, concluded that more public health strategies are needed to facilitate participation in physical activity “especially for working-class individuals”.

It also said “more importantly, the public needs to be aware of the Irish national guidelines on physical activity”.

Adults are recommended 30 minutes of moderate intensity activity five days per week according to the guidelines.

The findings were presented this weekend at the eighth annual scientific conference of the Faculty of Sports and Exercise Medicine, a joint faculty of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland.

Another study presented at the conference — that looked at exercise patterns in patients attending a respiratory clinic at the Mid West Regional Hospital — found smokers were less likely than ex-smokers to participate in exercise.

Close to three quarters of the 78 who took part (with a median age range of 61-80) felt they suffered from breathlessness and exercised for shorter periods of time. However, they were more willing to participate in pulmonary rehabilitation.

The authors of the study concluded that the majority of respiratory patients exercise, and that smoking has a negative effect on exercise participation.