Abstract P291: Similar Over-Reporting of Physical Activity among African Immigrant Men and Women: The Africans in America Study

Abstract

Levels of physical activity (PA), an important risk factor for cardiometabolic disease, may decline in Africans after immigration and it is unknown whether PA type differs by sex. To determine PA profile and perceived activity in African immigrants, we examined PA type and intensity using the self-report Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) Typical Week Physical Activity Survey (TWPAS). Physical activity levels were defined as time spent in total and moderate-vigorous PA in 80 African immigrants living in the DC metro area, who self-identified as healthy (66% male; age 39.1±9.4y (mean±SD), range 22-58y; BMI 28.2±4.4 kg/m 2 , range 19.7-41.2). Total and moderate-vigorous PA were 1952.1±1759.6 and 717.6±840.3 min•wk -1 , respectively and did not vary by sex, P=0.9 (Fig 1). Men and women reported spending equal amounts of time in each moderate-vigorous PA category (household, occupational, childcare, intentional and volunteer, P=0.7). Ninety-five percent of Africans reported meeting moderate-vigorous PA guidelines > 150 min•wk -1 (Fig 1A). However, 10% of Africans reported more total PA than there are minutes in a week (Fig 1B) and 1/3 reported excessive weekly moderate-vigorous PA (total >5hr•dy -1 and intentional > 2 hr•dy -1 ). In the 26 Africans with >5 hr•dy -1 of total moderate-vigorous PA, those with an annual income of ≥$30,000 reported greater levels of moderate-vigorous PA than those with an income <$30,000, 4866.8±1646.3 vs. 3558.7±769.9, respectively (P=0.01). Moderate-vigorous PA levels did not vary in this group by African birth region, education, years in the US or percent weight gain since immigration (P>0.3). Self-reported PA profiles were similar among African immigrant men and women, but were over-reported by at least 10% of respondents. Over-reporting may be more common in Africans of higher socioeconomic status. The MESA TWPAS questionnaire provides insight into PA profiles in African immigrants, but is suboptimal for quantitative examination of PA levels.