Coronary heart disease and physical activity in South Asian women: local context and challenges

This paper discusses some of the findings of the Bristol Black and Ethnic Minority Health Survey, especially in relation to local plans to improve opportunities for South Asian women to become more physically active. Low levels of participation in exercise sessions were reported in the survey, particularly among Pakistani women. Many of the South Asian women whom we interviewed have poor self-assessed health and limited know ledge of English; they are also economically disadvantaged. It seems likely that exercise sessions outside the home will not reach many of these women. A project has been funded to discuss the research with local women, to identify exercise facilities and improve opportunities for South Asian women to become more active. In what follows we discuss findings relating to all South Asian women but subsequently with particular regard to Pakistani women, the largest single group.