Cardiorespiratory fitness levels and associations with physical activity and body composition in young South African adults from Soweto

Abstract

BackgroundThis observational study aims to describe fitness, and objectively measured physical activity levels and patterns in 409 young black South African adults (aged 19–20 years) from Soweto, as well as to examine associations between physical activity, fitness and BMI.MethodsA sub-maximal ramped step test was used to obtain an estimate of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max). Physical activity was measured using ActiGraph (GT1M) for 7 days in 256 participants. Time spent in sedentary (<100 counts per minute (cpm)), moderate (2020–5998 cpm) and vigorous (≥5999 cpm) intensity activity was calculated, and 90% of participants were considered active. Data are presented as mean(CI) or median(CI).ResultsOverweight and obesity was more prevalent in females than males (35% vs 8%, p < 0.001). Males had a higher VO2max than females (41.9(41, 43) vs 32.6(32, 33)mlO2/kg/min, p < 0.001); spent more time in moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) (83(80, 94) vs 43(38, 45)min/day, p < 0.001), and less time in sedentary behaviours (541(541, 567) vs 575(568, 597)min/day, p < 0.01). Sedentary time was not associated with VO2max, however BMI was inversely associated, and MVPA was positively associated, with VO2max (both p < 0.001).ConclusionsThe majority of young South African adults in this study were sufficiently active, and higher MVPA was associated with fitness. However, the high level of sedentary behaviour in this population is of concern and may be contributing to the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity in this population. Young South African females are at greatest risk for decreased cardiovascular fitness and should be the focus for future interventions.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12889-017-4212-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Association of Pain, Severe Pain, and Multisite Pain with the Level of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in Severely Obese Adults: Baseline Data from the DieTBra Trial

“…Physical activity promotes an improvement in all these parameters, and any level of physical activity is preferable to sedentary behavior [49]. Obesity can contribute to musculoskeletal pain and, consequently, it also contributes to an insufficient amount of MVPA along with increased sedentary behavior [14,50,51]. Although no studies regarding adults with obesity were found, in studies on nonobese adults and the elderly, chronic musculoskeletal pain and a higher number of painful sites were associated with low MVPA [52][53][54].…”

Pilot implementation of Bukhali: A preconception health trial in South Africa

“… 12 Preconception health promotion with young women in Soweto is imperative, since a third of them will have their first child by the time they are 19 years old. 13 Furthermore, there are multiple non-communicable disease risks for young women in Soweto – these include overweight and obesity, 7 poor diet, 14 – 16 high sedentary behaviour 17 , 18 and physical inactivity in late adolescence. 19 In addition, young women in Soweto face mental health challenges, such as anxiety and depression, 20 and HIV remains a complex issue for young people in Soweto, 12 with young women being particularly at risk of HIV infection.…”

Understanding the Relationship between Socio-Economic Status, Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour, and Adiposity in Young Adult South African Women Using Structural Equation Modelling

“…This suggests that the traditionally-accepted inverse association between physical activity and BMI may be confounded by changing food environments in transitioning societies, and that other factors may play a more significant role in determining BMI and body composition. Time spent in sedentary behaviours has also been shown to be high in some South African populations [ 13 , 14 ], but whether this predicts adiposity in the context of socio-demographic factors in urban and rural populations remains to be investigated. Further, a study of young adult women from urban and rural settings in South Africa is of great relevance as they fall within an age group that has been reported to have the highest pregnancy rates in South Africa [ 15 ].…”