Different associations of sufficient and vigorous physical activity with BMI in Northwest China

Feng Liu,Weihua Wang,Guihua Zhuang,Rina Sa,Jingang Ma

doi:10.1038/s41598-018-31227-6

Abstract

Physical activity (PA) plays an important role in maintaining a healthy weight. To develop targeted strategies that encourage physical activity, knowledge of associations between intensity of physical activity (PA) levels and body mass index (BMI) is essential. We aimed to examine the relationship between sufficient and vigorous PA and BMI distribution among adults in northwest China using quantile regression. We conducted a cross-sectional study in Shaanxi Province in 2013, using proportional probability sampling. BMI was calculated using measured height and weight. The Global Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to define and measure sufficient and vigorous PA. Associations of sufficient/vigorous PA and BMI were modelled using quantile regression. Mean BMI was 24.18 ± 3.51 and BMI distribution with age showed an inverse U shape. A total 9045 (88.97%) participants demonstrated sufficient PA and 3119 (30.68%) reported vigorous PA. After adjusting for relevant sociodemographic, dietary, and lifestyle parameters in quantile regression modelling, sufficient PA was positively associated with BMI score distribution from the 1st to 30th quantile, with β from 0.32 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.07 to 0.63) to 0.85 (95% CI: 0.40 to 1.19). Vigorous PA was negatively associated with BMI score distribution from the 30th to 93th quantiles, with β from −0.18 (95% CI: −0.31 to −0.02) to −0.81 (95% CI: −1.10 to −0.45). Sufficient PA was positively associated with underweight and normal weight whereas vigorous PA was negatively associated with overweight and obesity.

Highlights

Physical activity (PA) guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO) recommend moderate- or vigorous-intensity PA for 150 or 75 minutes weekly, respectively
Findings from the China Kadoorie Biobank show a 1-standard deviation (SD) (14 metabolic equivalents (MET)-h/d) greater intensity PA is associated with a 0.15-unit lower BMI8, whereas results from another study in China showed individuals aged ≥50 years who engaged in greater intensity PA had higher body mass index (BMI)[9]
Participants with vigorous PA were more likely to be male (62.46%), younger, living in rural areas (60.31%), have ≤6 years of education (46.23%), and to consume more salt (10.4 ± 8.45 g), oils (61.62 ± 32.85 g), alcohol (26.49 ± 53.25 g), and to smoke cigarettes compared with participants who did not report vigorous PA

Summary

Introduction

Physical activity (PA) guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO) recommend moderate- or vigorous-intensity PA for 150 or 75 minutes weekly, respectively. Findings from the China Kadoorie Biobank show a 1-standard deviation (SD) (14 metabolic equivalents (MET)-h/d) greater intensity PA is associated with a 0.15-unit lower BMI8, whereas results from another study in China showed individuals aged ≥50 years who engaged in greater intensity PA had higher body mass index (BMI)[9]. These studies examined the association of PA as a continuous variable and mean BMI of the study population; results from these studies varied among the different included populations.

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