Association Between Chronic Diseases, Sports Participation And Obesity: Findings From A Brazilian Longitudinal Study

Abstract

PURPOSE: To analyze the association between leisure-time physical activity (specifically sports participation), obesity and the incidence of chronic diseases among Brazilian adults. METHODS: The sample was composed of 620 adults (166 males and 454 females) aged 50 years or older followed from 2010 to 2014 in the city of Bauru, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Physical activity was assessed using a questionnaire (Baecke et al. Am J Clin Nutr, 1982 [face-to-face interview]) and subjects were stratified according to the engagement in sports in leisure-time (180 minutes/week over the last four months) as: Engaged (n= 99) and Non-engaged (n= 521). Body mass index (kg/m2) was used as diagnosis of obesity (BMI ≥30). Sports participation and obesity were combined and participants were stratified as follow: Obese/Non-sport (n= 230), Obese/Sport (n= 33), Non-obese/Non-sport (n= 291) and Non-obese/Sport (n= 66). The incidence of new cases of arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia and diabetes mellitus were verified through medical records. Chi-squared test for linear trend analyzed associations and statistical significance was set as p-value <5%. RESULTS: The incidence of arterial hypertension was not associated with the combination of sports participation and obesity (p-value= 0.853). However, the incidence of new cases of dyslipidemia (Obese/Non-engaged [37.8%], Obese/Engaged [30.3%], Non-obese/Non-engaged [27.8%] and Non-obese/Engaged [22.7%]; p-value= 0.004) and diabetes mellitus (Obese/Non-engaged [15.2%], Obese/Engaged [12.1%], Non-obese/Non-engaged [8.6%] and Non-obese/Engaged [6.1%]; p-value= 0.006) were associated with the lack of sports participation and obesity. CONCLUSION: There was an association between non-engagement in sports, obesity, and the incidence of dyslipidemia and diabetes mellitus among Brazilian adults. This finding highlight the importance of public health actions promoting healthy behaviors aiming the prevention of chronic diseases, especially in countries with universal health systems. Supported by the Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP), process number: 2018/01744-7 and CAPES.