Effect of obesity, dietary habits and physical exercise on visual acuity in healthy young subjects

Abstract

Aims/Purpose: To explore the effect of obesity, dietary habits, and physical exercise on high‐contrast visual acuity (HC‐VA) and low‐contrast visual acuity (LC‐VA) in healthy young subjects.Methods: A cross‐sectional pilot study was performed in 64 apparently healthy subjects (mean 21.6 ± 2.2 years of age; 24 men and 40 women). Best‐corrected distance HC‐VA and LC‐VA were measured using logMAR letter charts. Weight, height, and waist circumference (WC) were measured, and body mass index (BMI) and waist‐to‐height ratio (WHtR) calculated. A lifestyle questionnaire was used to investigate weekly physical activity (sedentary, active, and very active), the intake of fruits and vegetables per day (0–1 serving, 2–4 servings and 5 or more servings) and the consumption of saturated fat per day (0–1 serving and 2–4 servings). In addition, systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were measured, and cardiovascular risk (CVR) was calculated using the Framingham calculator.Results: Mean CVR was normal (3.07 ± 2.2%) and spherical equivalent was −0.55 ± 0.88 dioptres. 7.8% of the subjects was underweight, 57.8% had normal weight (18.5 ≤ BMI < 25), 23.4% overweight (25 ≤ BMI < 30), and 10.9% obesity. Abdominal obesity was normal (WHtR < 0.5) in 76.5% and 23.4% had abdominal obesity (WHtR ≥ 0.5). WHtR and BMI were not significantly correlated with HC‐VA and LC‐VA. No significant differences were found in the means of HC‐AV and LC‐AV between the physical exercise groups and according to the daily intake of fruits and vegetables. In the group consuming higher servings of saturated fat, mean HC‐VA was 0.03 logMAR worse (p = 0.0474) and mean LC‐VA was 0.05 logMAR worse (p = 0.0068) than in the group that reported consuming lower servings of saturated fat.Conclusions: Obesity, physical exercise and fruit and vegetable consumption were not associated with HC‐VA and LC‐VA. Conversely, higher saturated fat intake was associated with worse HC‐VA and LC‐VA in young adults.