Objectively Assessed Physical Activity and Weight Loss Maintenance among Individuals Enrolled in a Lifestyle Intervention.

Abstract

ObjectiveTo examine the relationship between objectively-assessed moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) and 4-year weight loss (WL) and WL maintenance among individuals with diabetes enrolled in the Look AHEAD trial.MethodsMVPA was measured on a subgroup of lifestyle intervention participants with accelerometry data at baseline, 1 and 4 years (n=553; age: 59.7±6.8yrs; BMI:35.5±5.9kg/m2). Minutes/week of bout-related MVPA was calculated (≥3 METs, ≥10-min bouts) and adherence to the national PA recommendation for WL maintenance (≥250 min/week) was assessed.ResultsIndependent of 1-year WL, 4-year MVPA (β=-0.003, SE=0.002, p=0.006), but not 1-year MVPA (β=0.0001, SE=0.001, p=0.50) was significantly associated with 4-year WL. Compared to ‘Non-maintainers’ (≥10% WL at Year 1, but <10% at Year 4; n=132), WL Maintainers (≥10% WL at Years 1 and 4; n=103) had higher MVPA at Year 1 (253.4±251.8 vs. 163.9±158.2 min/wk, p=0.002) and Year 4 (155.3±180.6 vs. 111.4±154.5 min/wk, p=0.046). While 38.8% and 22.3% of WL Maintainers engaged in ≥250 min/week at years 1 and 4 respectively, many engaged in <150 min/week (Year 1: 41% and Year 4: 61%).ConclusionsHigher weekly MVPA is associated with greater long-term WL and weight maintenance; however many individuals are able to maintain ≥10% WL while engaging in little MVPA.