Leisure‐time physical activity and other health behaviours: are they related?

Abstract

Data on the associations between leisure‐time physical activity and other health behaviours are conflicting. The National Heart Foundation 1989 Risk Factor Prevalence Survey data were analysed to examine the associations between leisure‐time physical activity and other life‐style health behaviours in a national representative sample with adjustment for potential confounders. Multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis using data from 9054 respondents aged 20 to 69 years showed that participation in leisure‐time physical activity, even when it was not vigorous, was weakly associated with not smoking, following a special diet and moderate consumption of alcohol; it was inversely associated with obesity. These weak associations could influence health practices at a population level if, as has been hypothesised, the adoption of leisure activity promotes the adoption of other good health practices. Confirmation of earlier findings of cross‐sectional associations between activity and other positive health practices justifies future prospective or experimental studies to determine the behavioural response to adoption of leisure‐time physical activity.

The neurocognitive connection between physical activity and eating behaviour

“…Whereas the effect of physical activity and dietary habits on disease has been established (10,11), the ability of these two behaviours to indirectly modify each other has been sparsely documented. The few studies that examined the interaction between habitual physical activity and healthy diet suggest an interactive and reinforcing relationship (12,13). A study by Brodney et al .…”

“…Whereas the effect of physical activity and dietary habits on disease has been established (10,11), the ability of these two behaviours to indirectly modify each other has been sparsely documented. The few studies that examined the interaction between habitual physical activity and healthy diet suggest an interactive and reinforcing relationship (12,13). A study by Brodney et al found that higher cardiorespiratory fitness levels were associated with lower percentage of energy from fat, higher dietary fibre intake, reduced cholesterol intake and closer adherence to dietary recommendations (14).…”

Diet and physical activity profiles in French preadolescents

“…Beneficial relationships between physical activity and 'healthy' food choices have been reported in several studies conducted on adults (Johnson et al 1995;Mensink et al 1997;Fung et al 2001;Gillman et al 2001) and in one of the two main studies conducted in this field on children and adolescents (Broyles et al 1999;Pate et al 2000). In contrast, such a favourable association was not identified in 4-7-year-old American children (Broyles et al 1999).…”

“…Synergetic or antagonistic effects of these behaviours are indeed conceivable. Some authors have put forward the hypothesis that a change in one factor will lead to changes in associated factors and have proposed a catalytic effect for physical activity (Johnson et al 1995).…”

“…These analyses have made it possible to confirm the protective effect of a 'prudent diet' (combining a high intake of fruits, vegetables, fish and whole grains) and the unhealthy impact of the Western diet on the risk of diabetes (Montonen et al 2005) and cardiovascular diseases (Fung et al 2001;Millen et al 2001). More recently, this approach has been extended to other behaviours that may interact with diet, such as physical activity and smoking (Johnson et al 1995;Mensink et al 1997;Fung et al 2001;Gillman et al 2001).…”