Abstract
The association of body image dissatisfaction and obesity with physical activity is likely to differ according to gender. To investigate this hypothesis, we conducted a cross-sectional study among the ELSA-Brasil cohort members aged 34–65 years (n = 13,286). The body image dissatisfaction was present even among normal weight individuals of both sexes and was associated with lesser chances of practicing moderate physical activity in women and intense physical activity in men. Men and women with central obesity were less prone to practice physical activity of high or moderate intensity. Overweight and obese men were more likely to report vigorous physical activity while obese women were less likely to report this level of physical activity. Body images as well as nutritional status are related to physical activity in both sexes, but the association with physical activity differs by gender.
Highlights
Even though the importance of physical activity is widely recognized, millions of adults remain sedentary, resulting in alarming sedentary lifestyle rates [1]
The present study investigates whether dissatisfaction with body image, obesity and central obesity are independently associated with physical activity and if such association is different among men and women participants in the Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil)
It is important to further understand the factors that are associated with body dissatisfaction and verify whether they are motivators or inhibitors of the longitudinal increase of physical activity
Summary
Even though the importance of physical activity is widely recognized, millions of adults remain sedentary, resulting in alarming sedentary lifestyle rates [1]. Considering the world population, approximately 31% of the adults are physically inactive [2], but more than 60% of them are not sufficiently active in order to obtain health benefits, according to the World Health Organization [1,3]. The association between obesity and sedentary lifestyle is dynamic, for obesity can be either the consequence or the cause of sedentary behavior [7]. Obese people tend to be less active, in part due to mobility problems caused by obesity and/or to embarrassment related to a negative body image [9,10]
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