The physical activity of healthy and chronically ill adults in Finland at work, at leisure and during commuting

The present study was conducted as part of the Mini‐Finland Health Survey, a comprehensive evaluation of the population's health. The sample was representative of the Finnish population aged 30 or over and consisted of 8000 people from 40 localities all over Finland. Both medical and physical activity interviews were used in this study. Total physical activity and physical activity in spare time decreased with age, but physical activity at work was highest in the 45‐ to 54‐year‐old age cohort. Total physical activity as well as physical activity at work and during spare time were higher in men than in women. The majority of people physically active at work were inhabitants of rural areas, whereas the majority of those physically active in their spare time were living in urban areas. Skiing was the most popular exercise among both sexes. People who reported having mental problems were the most passive in their spare time.