The Relationship between Physical Activity Variety and Objectively Measured Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity Levels in Weight Loss Maintainers and Normal-Weight Individuals

Hollie A Raynor,Jeremy Steeves,Richard Daniello,Suzanne Phelan,Rena R Wing,Dale S Bond

doi:10.1155/2012/812414

Abstract

Given the importance of physical activity (PA) for weight control, identifying strategies to achieve higher PA levels is imperative. We hypothesized that performing a greater variety of self-reported moderate-to-vigorous activities (MVPAs) would relate to higher objectively measured MVPA minutes in two groups who were successfully maintaining their body weight: weight loss maintainers (WLM/n = 226) and normal-weight individuals (NW/n = 169). The Paffenbarger Questionnaire and RT3 accelerometer were used to determine variety/number of different MVPAs performed and MVPA minutes, respectively. The variety/number of different activities performed by WLM and NW was similar (1.8 ± 1.2 versus 1.7 ± 1.2, P = 0.52). Regression analyses showed that greater variety (P < 0.01) and WLM status (P < 0.05) were each positively related to greater MVPA minutes/day and meeting the ≥250 MVPA minutes/week guideline for long-term weight maintenance. The association between greater variety and higher MVPA was similar in NW and WLM. Future studies should test whether variety can facilitate engagement in higher MVPA levels for more effective weight control.

Highlights

Engaging in high levels of physical activity is a key strategy for successful maintenance of weight loss [1]
We examined the relationship between physical activity variety, defined as the number of different types of self-reported moderate-to-vigorous activities performed in one week, and minutes spent in objectively measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in two groups of individuals who have successfully maintained their body weight long-term: (1) weight loss maintainers with previous history of overweight/obesity and (2) normalweight individuals without a history of overweight
There were no differences in accelerometer wear time between the groups, with the weight loss maintainers and normal-weight participants wearing the accelerometer for an average of 14.8 ± 2.0 hours/day on 7.5 ± 0.9 days

Summary

Introduction

Engaging in high levels of physical activity is a key strategy for successful maintenance of weight loss [1]. Long-term followup of participants in behavioral weight loss programs has shown that those who are most successful at maintaining their weight loss report activity levels similar to those of NWCR participants [3, 4]. Many individuals, those who are obese, are insufficiently active, and increasing physical activity can be a challenge [5, 6]. Prior studies have identified multiple strategies for increasing physical activity adoption and maintenance, such as providing home or clinic-based exercise programs [7], increasing access to active behaviors (e.g., adding exercise equipment in the home) [8], and reducing access to sedentary behaviors (e.g., limiting time to watch television) [9], using pedometers to track activity and progress toward physical activity goals [10], and accumulating exercise throughout the day in multiple short bouts (≥10 min) [11, 12]

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Conclusion