AIM: To examine the effect of a multifactorial lifestyle intervention on 5-year Change in physical activity (PA) and to explore whether length of education had an impact on the effect of the intervention. METHODS: Two random samples (high intervention group A, n = 11,708; low intervention group B, n = 1,308) were invited for a health examination, assessment of, absolute risk of ischemic heart disease and individual lifestyle counselling. The participation rate was 52.5%. High-risk individuals in group A were also offered group-based counselling on diet and PA and/or smoking cessation. High-risk individuals in group B were referred to usual care. All high-risk individuals were reinvited for examination and counselling after 1 and 3 years, and all participants were reexamined after 5 years. The control group (group C, n = 5,264, response rate 61.1%) answered a mailed questionnaire. Change in self-reported PA from baseline to 5-year follow-up was the main outcome. Level of education was classified as no vocational training, <= 4 years and > 4 years. Data were analysed using longitudinal linear regression models with random intercepts. RESULTS: In men, the high-intensity intervention had a beneficial effect on PA level after 5 years. The age- or time-related decrease in PA was approximately 30 min/week less compared to men in the control group (p < 0.0001). Level of education had no significant impact on the effect of the intervention neither in men (p = 0.39) nor in women (p = 0.32). CONCLUSION: A population-based multifactorial lifestyle intervention did not influence social inequality in PA.
Reproduced with permission from the BMJ Publishing Group.

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