Abstract
BackgroundPhysical activity (PA) has been shown to attenuate the genetic risk of obesity as measured using polygenic risk scores. However, familial obesity history might be an easier predictor. We examined associations between PA and subsequent changes in BMI, body fat percentage (BF%) and waist circumference (WC) among participants with and without adiposity and a familial overweight.MethodsIn total, 1971 participants from the Danish MONICA cohort were included. Mean differences for 6-year changes in BMI, BF% and WC across PA levels were estimated. Association between walking and biking and subsequent change in adiposity were analysed. Effect modification by familial obesity was assessed by adding product terms to the models.ResultsWe observed weak associations between leisure PA level and changes in WC [participants with low PA: 3.4 cm (95%CI: 2.8;4.0), participants with high PA: 2.4 cm (95%CI: 1.8;3.0)], with no evidence of effect modification by familial obesity. We found effect modification in analyses on walking and biking in relation to changes in BMI (P-interaction<0.01) and BF% (P-interaction=0.04), suggesting lower gain with more hours of activity among participants with adiposity and familial overweight.ConclusionsThe results were modest but suggested that PA, especially walking and biking, may prevent future adiposity.
Highlights
Obesity is one of the leading preventable causes of both morbidity and mortality [1], estimated to account for 8.4% of the total healthcare spending in OECD countries [2]
In numerous cross-sectional studies, a sedentary lifestyle has been suggested to play a large role in obesity [4], and evidence suggest that physical activity has a beneficial effect on regulation of the energy balance, even with some degree of compensation for the higher energy expenditure [5]
Some have even suggested obesity as the determinant rather than the consequence of a sedentary lifestyle, which could explain the strong association between body mass index (BMI) and a sedentary lifestyle observed from crosssectional studies [7, 8]
Summary
Obesity is one of the leading preventable causes of both morbidity and mortality [1], estimated to account for 8.4% of the total healthcare spending in OECD countries [2]. This has raised a serious public health concern, as the prevalence of obesity is increasing on a global level [3]. In numerous cross-sectional studies, a sedentary lifestyle has been suggested to play a large role in obesity [4], and evidence suggest that physical activity has a beneficial effect on regulation of the energy balance, even with some degree of compensation for the higher energy expenditure [5]. We examined associations between PA and subsequent changes in BMI, body fat percentage (BF%) and waist circumference (WC) among participants with and without adiposity and a familial overweight
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