Leisure-time physical activity and regular walking or cycling to work are associated with adiposity and 5 y weight gain in middle-aged men: the PRIME Study

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:To examine the in¯uence of physical activity on body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (W) and body mass changes (DBMI) in middle-aged men, with special regard to moderate-intensity activities. DESIGN: Longitudinal study of adults who participated in the PRIME Study. SUBJECTS: A cohort of 8865 men aged 50±59 y, free of coronary heart disease. MEASUREMENTS: BMI and W at baseline, body mass changes over a 5 y period. Detailed baseline assessment of net energy expenditure due to physical activity (PAE) in the preceding year, according to category of activity, by means of the MOSPA Questionnaire. PAE was expressed in weekly metabolic equivalent scores (MET haweek). RESULTS: After adjustment for confounders, the multiple regression analyses indicated that BMI, W and DBMI were inversely associated with PAE spent in getting to work (P`10 75 ,`10 75 and 0.04, respectively) and practice of high-intensity ( ! 6 MET) recreational activities (`0.01,`10 75 and`0.01). Men who regularly spent more than 10 MET haweek in walking or cycling to work had a mean BMI, W and DBMI respectively 0.3 kgam 2 , 1 cm and 0.06 kgam 2 lower than those who did not expend energy in getting to work. In the subgroup of subjects who did not perform high-intensity activities, the level of recreational PAE was inversely associated with BMI and W but not with subsequent weight-gain. CONCLUSION: These ®ndings indicate that, in middle-aged men, physical activities of moderate-intensity, which are probably easier to promote than more vigorous activities and, in particular, a more current daily activity, walking or cycling to work, may have a favourable effect on body fat markers and body mass gain. International Journal of Obesity (2001) 25, 940±948

Leisure-time physical activity and sedentary behavior clusters and their associations with overweight in middle-aged French adults

“…This is consistent with previous studies showing a negative relationship between obesity indices and vigorous activities or high levels of energy expenditure through physical activity. 6,58 Littmand et al 11 found that high-intensity activities (such as fast walking, fast cycling, jogging, aerobics) were inversely associated with weight gain in both sexes, whereas the association was not statistically significant with low-intensity activities, such as slow walking, slow cycling and swimming. In this study, associations between physical activity and sedentary behavior patterns and overweight were stronger for women than for men.…”

“…Although the optimal level of physical activity that would prevent weight gain is still debated, 60,61 these data are in agreement with the notion that even in the absence of high-intensity physical activity, some energy expended during leisure time may be beneficial for weight control. 6 In addition, it may be easier to incorporate into daily life multiple activities of relatively short duration.…”

“…[1][2][3] Although the longitudinal relationship between physical activity level and obesity has been questioned, 4 this association has been documented in a number of cross-sectional studies. [5][6][7] Recently, Besson et al 8 using data obtained from adults in nine European countries included in the EPIC (European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and nutrition) study, showed a strong inverse relationship between total physical activity and body mass index (BMI), independent of age, gender and country, as well as other potential confounding factors, including energy intake. Physical activity is recognized as a complex behavior, with the main characteristics being type, duration, frequency and intensity.…”

Insulin resistance as a modifier of the relationship between dietary fat intake and weight gain

“…In multiple studies, individuals who exercise gain less weight over time both after a planned weight loss and without any prior attempts at weight change. [46][47][48][49] Exercise may also allow adaptation to a highfat diet, thereby specifically modifying the proposed relationship between dietary fat and weight gain. 50 Our activity measure was limited to three categories in analysis (sedentary, moderate, and vigorous) and thus may not have adequately captured true activity levels.…”

Atividade física e sintomas do envelhecimento masculino em uma população do sul do Brasil

“…Regarding somatic symptoms, physical activities are able to prevent loss of muscular mass and strength and minimize the risk of fractures and the compromising of quality of life of subjects in the age group (19,20) . Moreover, they contribute to the increase of cardiorespiratory fitness (19,21) as well as bone mineral density (22) , besides improving the lipid profile (23) and reducing the percentage of fat and its markers (24) , which are somatic characteristics of aging. Since physical activity is effective in controlling the psychological and somatic symptoms which are part of the general symptomatology of aging male, the benefits of this behavior are also effective for the aging general score having presented lower prevalence among those men who were active when compared with the physically inactive, since the general score is partly a consequence of these two symptoms.…”