Associations between diet, physical activity and body fat distribution: a cross sectional study in an Indian population.

Liza Bowen,Kv Radha Krishna,Sanjay Kinra,Ulf Ekelund,Jonathan Ck Wells,Hannah Kuper,Ruth Sullivan,Bharati Kulkarni,Amy E Taylor,Yoav Ben-Shlomo,Shah Ebrahim

doi:10.1186/s12889-015-1550-7

Abstract

BackgroundObesity is a growing health problem in India and worldwide, due to changes in lifestyle. This study aimed to explore the independent associations between dietary and physical activity exposure variables and total body fat and distribution in an Indian setting.MethodsIndividuals who had participated in the Indian Migration Study (IMS) or the Andhra Pradesh Children And Parents' Study (APCAPS), were invited to participate in the Hyderabad DXA Study. Total and abdominal body fat of study participants was measured using DXA scans. Diet and physical activity (PA) levels were measured using questionnaires.ResultsData on 2208 participants was available for analysis; mean age was 49 yrs in IMS, 21 yrs in APCAPS. Total energy intake was positively associated with total body fat in the APCAPS sample: a 100 kcal higher energy intake was associated with 45 g higher body fat (95% CI 22, 68). In the IMS sample no association was found with total energy intake, but there was a positive association with percent protein intake (1% higher proportion of energy from protein associated with 509 g (95% CI 138,880) higher total body fat). Broadly the same pattern of associations was found with proportion of fat in the abdominal region as the outcome. PA was inversely associated with total body fat in both populations (in APCAPS, one MET-hour higher activity was associated with 46 g (95% CI 12, 81) less body fat; in the IMS it was associated with 145 g less body fat (95% CI 73, 218)). An inverse association was observed between PA and percentage abdominal fat in the IMS but no association was seen in the APCAPS population.ConclusionsIn this Indian population, there was an inverse association between PA and body fat. Associations between body fat and dietary variables differed between the younger APCAPS population and older IMS population. Further longitudinal research is needed to elucidate causality and directions of these associations across the life course.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12889-015-1550-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Highlights

Obesity is a growing health problem in India and worldwide, due to changes in lifestyle
Reported energy intake was higher in men than women, and within men it was higher in the Andhra Pradesh Children And Parents' Study (APCAPS) population than the Indian Migration Study (IMS) population
In the APCAPS cohort, one metabolic equivalent value (MET)-hour higher activity was associated with 46 g less body fat; in the IMS with 145 g less body fat

Summary

Introduction

Obesity is a growing health problem in India and worldwide, due to changes in lifestyle. This study aimed to explore the independent associations between dietary and physical activity exposure variables and total body fat and distribution in an Indian setting. Obesity is an escalating health problem worldwide [1]. The National Family and Health Survey of India reported rises in overweight and obesity (BMI ≥ 25) in 15– 49 year old women from 7.3% in 1998–9 to 11.1% in 2005–6 [2,3]. Both dietary factors and physical activity patterns are associated with weight gain, though the underlying mechanisms are still being elucidated. Weight can be stored as lean mass or fat mass, and an understanding of which factors favour fat mass deposition could help in obesity prevention. The composition of the diet may be influential; if so, nutrient content as well as total dietary energy intake is important in prevention efforts

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