The Relationship Between Aerobic Activity Health Conditions and Medical Visits Among Men and Women Serving Aboard Navy Ships

Abstract : No recent studies on Navy personnel have examined the relationship between aerobic activity and adverse health conditions or medical care visits. This study examined these relationships to determine if aerobic activity was inversely related to self- reported health conditions and medical visits. Contingency tables were computed for amount of self-reported aerobic activity and prevalence rate of adverse health conditions, number of adverse health conditions, number of medical visits, and gender. Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were performed. Age, educational level, marital status, and gender were controlled for in some tests. Women exercised more frequently than men, and men engaged in more work-related aerobic activity days. Women also reported more health conditions, (P <.001), and more medical visits, (P <.001). Exercise was not related to number of reported health conditions overall, (P = 0.12), but frequent exercisers had a lower prevalence rate of specific adverse health conditions than infrequent exercisers. Those with frequent work-related aerobic activity had more overall health conditions than more sedentary workers, P < .001, and reported more specific adverse conditions. In contrast to the favorable association of exercise with reported health conditions, women who reported exercising frequently had more medical visits. Moderate exercise is beneficial, but frequent work-related aerobic activity might have adverse health effects. According to self-reports, Navy men and women exercise more than their civilian counterparts, but some are still not meeting the minimum amounts recommended by the Navy.