A longitudinal psycho-physiological study of active and inactive men.

After an interval of ten years, physically active and inactive male university teachers were re-examined across four measures; predicted maximum oxygen uptake, percentage body fat, personality and attitudes towards physical activity. Both groups showed a decrease in predicted oxygen uptake and an increase in body fat although the active subjects continued to possess higher predicted maximum oxygen uptake values and have a lower percentage body fat than the inactive subjects. In general the psychological assessments revealed no major changes but minor shifts in attitudes towards physical activity were noted.