Effect Of Leisure-time Physical Activity Research Articles

Abstract P124: Leisure Time Physical Activity and Cardio-metabolic Health: Results from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil)

Context: Physical inactivity and cardio-metabolic diseases are increasingly prevalent in Brazil, and preventive guidelines are urgently needed for physical activity (PA) promotion in Brazilian populations. Objective: To investigate the association between leisure time PA and cardio-metabolic health in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil). Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the baseline data from 11,547 women and men aged 35-74 free of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in the ELSA-Brasil. Data on PA was obtained using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Physical activity status was defined according to the American Heart Association’s recommendation (at least 150 minutes/ week moderate activities or 75 minutes/week vigorous activities). Multivariable linear/logistic regression models were used to examine the sex-specific associations of leisure time PA with intermediate cardio-metabolic markers (systolic/dialectic blood pressure (SBP/DBP), heart frequency, and Framingham Risk Scores) and cardio-metabolic diseases (hypertension, diabetes, and predicted 10-year risk of CVD). We also conducted two sets of sensitivity analyses using 1) an alternative definition of PA (PA-related energy expenditure ≥ 1000 kilocalories/week) and 2) additional adjustment for education and income. Results: In total, 1,183 women and 1,387 men were classified as active. After taking into account multiple covariates, the favorable effects of leisure time PA on cardio-metabolic parameters were evident for both women and men (Table) . These associations did not change appreciably when the alternative definition of PA was used or additional socioeconomic variables were taken into account. Conclusion: We observed significant beneficial effects of leisure time PA on cardio-metabolic health in this large Brazilian population that are consistent with studies in high-income countries of North America and Europe.

Effects of high occupational physical activity, aging, and exercise on heart rate variability among male workers.

ObjectivesEffects of aging and leisure time physical activity (LPA) might influence the effect of occupational physical activity (OPA) on risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study was conducted to determine whether OPA affects CVD after controlling the effects of LPA and other risk factors for CVD such as job stress.MethodsParticipants were 131 male Korean manual workers. Tests for heart rate variability (HRV) were conducted for five minutes in the morning at work. We defined OPA as the combined concept of relative heart rate ratio (RHR), evaluated using a heart rate monitor.ResultsWhereas high OPA was not related to any HRV items in the younger age group, high OPA was associated with an increased number of low-value cases among all HRV items in older workers. Exercise had beneficial effects only in the younger group. After controlling for exercise and other risk factors, the odds ratios of the root-mean square of the difference of successive normal R-R intervals (rMSSD) and high frequency band power (HF) among the older age and high OPA group compared with the younger age and low OPA group were 64.0 and 18.5, respectively. Social support and shift work were independent risk factors in HRV.ConclusionsOPA in aging workers increases CVD risks. This study provides support for the need for protection of aging workers from physical work overload, and indicates the need for further study of optimal limits of OPA.

Retraction note: Leisure-time physical activity and the risk of metabolic syndrome: meta-analysis.

The purpose of this study was to assess the association between leisure-time physical activity (LPA) and the risk of metabolic syndrome (MS). Prospective cohort studies of the association between LPA and the risk of MS were retrieved from the PubMed and Embase databases up to 12 August 2013. The statistical analysis in this study was performed using Stata 11.0 software. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to evaluate the effect of LPA on the risk of MS. A total of five articles were included in this meta-analysis. The overall effect sizes indicated that people with moderate level LPA (OR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.82 to 0.96, P = 0.003) or high level LPA (OR = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.38 to 0.89, P = 0.012) had lower risk of MS than people with low level LPA. The subgroup analysis by gender showed that high level LPA could reduce the risk of MS in populations of different genders (female, OR = 0.20, 95% CI: 0.08 to 0.49, P <0.001; male, OR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.43 to 0.82, P = 0.002). However, compared with low level LPA, Americans with high level LPA did not significantly reduce the risk of MS (OR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.43 to 0.82, P = 0.002), while a significant decrease of the risk of MS was found in Europeans with high level LPA (OR = 0.49, 95% CI 0.32 to 0.77, P = 0.002) in the subgroup analysis by region. The meta-analysis confirmed that a moderate and high level of LPA could reduce the risk of MS.

Leisure-time physical activity and cardiometabolic risk among children and adolescents

ObjectiveTo assess the effect of Leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) on cardiometabolic risk by nutritional status in Mexican children and adolescents. MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study conducted with 1,309 participants aged between 5 and 17 years. Nutritional status was classified according to the BMI Z-score by age and gender. A previously validated questionnaire was used to evaluate LTPA; a cardiometabolic risk score was calculated. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to assess the effect of LTPA on cardiometabolic risk. ResultsAfter adjusting for risk factors, mild LTPA were positively associated with cardiometabolic risk score (βMildvsIntenseLTPA: 0.68; 95% CI: 0.18 to 1.18; pfortrend = 0.007). This association became stronger when estimated for overweight (β MildvsIntenseLTPA: 1.24; 95% CI: 0.24 to 2.24; pfortrend = 0.015) and obese participants (β MildvsIntenseLTPA: 1.02; 95% CI: 0.07 to 1.97; pfortrend= 0.045). ConclusionMild LTPA was positively associated with cardiometabolic risk in overweight and obese children and adolescents. Given the emerging childhood obesity epidemic in Mexico, these results may be useful in the design of strategies and programs to increase physical activity levels in order to achieve better health.

Gender-specific associations between leisure-time physical activity and symptoms of anxiety: the HUNT study.

The underlying goal of the study was to examine gender-specific effects of leisure-time physical activity on the development of symptoms of anxiety. The second wave of a prospective cohort survey (HUNT 2) was conducted during 1995-1997 in the county of Nord-Trøndelag, Norway, with a follow-up in 2006-2008 (HUNT 3). The sample consisted of 12,796 women and 11,195 men with an age range of 19-85years. A binomial model with a log-link function and generalized linear model analysis with gamma distribution was used to assess the association between physical activity and anxiety symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale anxiety subscale, HADS-A). A total of 1,211 (9.5%) women and 650 (5.8%) men developed HADS-defined anxiety (≥8 on the HADS-A scale). Men who scored in the middle tertile of the calculated physical activity index developed significantly fewer cases of HADS-defined anxiety compared with men in the lowest tertile (p<0.05). In the gamma regression analysis for women, having higher scores on the moderate-high physical activity was associated with fewer symptoms of anxiety (p<0.01). Women developed almost twice as many cases of HADS-defined anxiety compared to men. Significant associations were found between general leisure-time physical activity and anxiety symptoms among women and men, but the true effect is likely to be different from the observed associations due to several threats to the internal validity in the study.

Impact of leisure-time physical activity on glycemic control and cardiovascular risk factors in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: the Fukuoka Diabetes Registry.

Aims/hypothesisThe effects of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) on glycemia and cardiovascular risk factors are not fully understood in Asian type 2 diabetic patients, who are typically non-obese. We studied associations between LTPA and glycemia and cardiovascular risk factors in Japanese type 2 diabetic patients.MethodsA total of 4,870 Japanese type 2 diabetic patients aged ≥20 years were divided into eight groups according to their LTPA. We investigated associations between the amount and intensity levels of physical activity (PA) and glycemic control, insulin sensitivity, cardiovascular risk factors, and low-grade systemic inflammation in a cross-sectional study.ResultsLTPA was dose-dependently associated with body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), fasting plasma glucose, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, and prevalence of metabolic syndrome, but not with blood pressure, low density lipoprotein cholesterol or adiponectin. The amount of PA required to lower HbA1c was greater than that required to improve cardiovascular risk factors. LTPA was inversely associated with HbA1c in non-obese participants but not in obese participants after multivariate adjustments for age, sex, duration of diabetes, current smoking, current drinking, energy intake, cardiovascular diseases, depressive symptoms, and treatment of diabetes. Higher-intensity LTPA, not lower-intensity LTPA was associated with HbA1c after multivariate adjustments with further adjustment including BMI.Conclusions/interpretationLTPA was dose-dependently associated with better glycemic control and amelioration of some cardiovascular risk factors in Japanese type 2 diabetic patients. In addition, increased higher-intensity LTPA may be appropriate for glycemic control.

Leisure-time physical activity and the risk of metabolic syndrome: meta-analysis.

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to assess the association between leisure-time physical activity (LPA) and the risk of metabolic syndrome (MS).MethodsProspective cohort studies of the association between LPA and the risk of MS were retrieved from the PubMed and Embase databases up to 12 August 2013. The statistical analysis in this study was performed using Stata 11.0 software. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to evaluate the effect of LPA on the risk of MS.ResultsA total of five articles were included in this meta-analysis. The overall effect sizes indicated that people with moderate level LPA (OR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.82 to 0.96, P = 0.003) or high level LPA (OR = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.38 to 0.89, P = 0.012) had lower risk of MS than people with low level LPA. The subgroup analysis by gender showed that high level LPA could reduce the risk of MS in populations of different genders (female, OR = 0.20, 95% CI: 0.08 to 0.49, P <0.001; male, OR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.43 to 0.82, P = 0.002). However, compared with low level LPA, Americans with high level LPA did not significantly reduce the risk of MS (OR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.43 to 0.82, P = 0.002), while a significant decrease of the risk of MS was found in Europeans with high level LPA (OR = 0.49, 95% CI 0.32 to 0.77, P = 0.002) in the subgroup analysis by region.ConclusionsThe meta-analysis confirmed that a moderate and high level of LPA could reduce the risk of MS.

Direct effects of leisure-time physical activity on walking speed.

This study quantifies the effects of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) on walking speed independently of body composition in an elderly cohort, and in those elderly with metabolic derangements due to age, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). 1655 community-dwelling women and men >55 years were measured for body composition (lean mass : fat mass ratio, LNFAT) , based on estimated bioelectric impedance by using population-specific prediction equations derived from dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. In addition to LNFAT, LTPA, diabetes, CVD, walking speed, and other covariates were measured biannually over an 8-year period. LTPA was categorized as <22.5 Mets/week, ≥ 22.5 Mets/week, based on public-health recommended guidelines, and LNFAT was dichotomized based on its sex-specific median. Direct effects of high vs. low LTPA on walking speed were estimated for fixed levels of LNFAT, which represented an intermediary variable in the analysis. Stratified estimates of effects were obtained using subject status (e.g., age≥75 years, diabetes, CVD) at each visit. Walking speed was significantly greater (0.74, 0.75 m/s in women and men, respectively) if subjects experienced LTPA ≥22.5 Mets/week and > median LNFAT, compared with <22.5 Mets/week and ≤ median LNFAT (0.68, 0.69 m/s). While direct effects of LTPA contributed to higher walking speed, none were significant in the overall, nor the stratified groups of subjects, of either sex. Walking speed increases with greater LTPA and LNFAT in the elderly, but there was no evidence to indicate that walking speed increases from LTPA independently of body composition and the metabolic processes it represents.

The Combined Effect of Leisure-Time Physical Activity and Diabetes on Cardiovascular Mortality

OBJECTIVETo examine if leisure-time physical activity could cancel out the adverse effect of diabetes on cardiovascular mortality.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSThis study prospectively examined the combined effect of clinical diabetes and reported leisure-time physical activity on cardiovascular mortality. Data on 53,587 Norwegian men and women participating in the population-based Nord-Trøndelag Health (HUNT) Study (1995–1997) were linked with the Cause of Death Registry at Statistics Norway.RESULTSOverall, 1,716 people died of cardiovascular disease during follow-up through 2008. Compared with the reference group of 3,077 physically inactive people without diabetes, 121 inactive people with diabetes had an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 2.81 (95% CI 1.93–4.07). The HR (95% CI) among people who reported ≥3 h of light activity per week was 0.89 (0.48–1.63) if they had diabetes (n = 403) and 0.78 (0.63–0.96) if they did not (n = 17,714). Analyses stratified by total activity level showed a gradually weaker association of diabetes with mortality with increasing activity level (Pinteraction = 0.003).CONCLUSIONSThe data suggest that even modest physical activity may cancel out the adverse impact of diabetes on cardiovascular mortality.

ENOS genotype modifies the effect of leisure-time physical activity on serum triglyceride levels in a Japanese population

BackgroundNitric oxide is a key molecule not only in the cardiovascular system, but also in the metabolic-endocrine system. The purpose of this study was to examine possible associations of the NOS3 T-786C polymorphism (rs2070744) with serum lipid levels on the basis of lifestyle factors for tailoring prevention of dyslipidemia.MethodsFor this cross-sectional study, a total of 2226 subjects aged 35 to 69 years (1084 men and 1142 women) were selected from Japanese participants in the Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort (J-MICC) Study. They were recruited in eight areas throughout Japan between February 2004 and November 2008.ResultsIn a stratified analysis by leisure-time physical activity, the likelihood of hypertriglyceridemia (serum triglyceride levels ≥ 150 mg/dL) among subjects with the C allele was significantly lower than those without it in the active group (OR = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.22-0.84 in the fasting group), but not in the sedentary group. A gene-environment interaction between the T-786C polymorphism and leisure-time physical activity for hypertriglyceridemia was significant (P = 0.007 in the fasting group). Additionally, serum triglyceride levels (mean ± SD) across leisure-time physical activity classes decreased significantly only in the TC + CC genotype group (111 ± 60 mg/dL for sedentary, 95 ± 48 mg/dL for moderately active, 88 ± 44 mg/dL for very active, P for trend = 0.008 in the fasting group), but not in the TT genotype group. Total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and non-HDL cholesterol levels had no significant association with the polymorphism.ConclusionsThis study suggests that the NOS3 T-786C polymorphism modifies the effect of leisure-time physical activity on serum triglyceride levels.

The Beneficial Effect of Leisure-Time Physical Activity on Bone Mineral Density in Pre- and Postmenopausal Women

Regular exercise and physical activity (PA) are known to be protective factors for maintaining bone mineral density (BMD) and preventing osteoporotic fracture. We investigated the associations between leisure-time PA and BMD in 2,903 premenopausal and 2,267 postmenopausal women in Korea. BMDs of the lumbar spine and femur were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Leisure-time PA levels were assessed by a self-administrated questionnaire, and a total metabolic equivalent (MET) score was obtained. Regardless of menopausal status, performing more than moderate levels of leisure-time PA or total MET score had a significant positive association with BMD at both the lumbar spine and femur. In the premenopausal group, women whose total MET score was 1,050-1,500 (MET-min/week) appeared to have the highest lumbar spine and femoral BMD (p < 0.001). The associations between PA level and lumbar spine and femoral BMD were also shown in the postmenopausal group (p < 0.001). In addition, we found dose-response relationships between increasing exercise level and femoral BMD in both the premenopausal and postmenopausal groups. Our results indicate that a more than moderate level of leisure-time PA plays a role in maintaining BMD.

Moderating Effects of Leisure-Time Physical Activity on the Association Between Job Strain and Depressive Symptoms

We examined whether long-term leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) has a moderating effect on the association between job strain and depressive symptoms using prospective data. Full-time employees (455 men and 480 women) aged 30 to 45 years were followed from 2001 to 2007. Data were collected using questionnaires. Sustained participation in LTPA was inversely associated with depressive symptoms in employed men and women. The direct relationship of job strain to depressive symptoms was significantly moderated by LTPA only in women when the potential confounders were controlled for. Depressive symptoms are inversely associated with regular LTPA and directly associated with chronic job strain in both sexes. In women, persistent participation in LTPA may modify the relation between chronic job stress and subthreshold depressive symptoms by reducing depressive symptoms associated with job strain.

Physical activity and age at menopause: the Nord-Trøndelag population-based health study

ABSTRACTBackground Age at menopause may affect women's subsequent morbidity and mortality. In contrast to numerous other health outcomes, little is known about the possible effects of physical activity on age at menopause.Objectives To assess the relationship between leisure-time physical activity and age at menopause.Methods Premenopausal women participating in a population-based health survey (HUNT 2) conducted in the county of Nord-Trøndelag, Norway reported their physical activity in the period of 1995–1997. Age at menopause was reported during 2006–2008 (HUNT 3). Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios for menopause and logistic regression to estimate odds ratios for early menopause, with 95% confidence intervals, adjusting for age at menarche, parity, use of oral contraceptives prior to the 6 months preceding participation in HUNT 2, symptoms of depression, smoking status, and education.Results Women aged 40–49 years at baseline had lower hazard ratios for menopause when participating in any light leisure-time physical activity compared with no activity (p < 0.05) and similar results were observed in 19–39-year-olds. In 50–59-year-old women, the results varied greatly and did not reach statistical significance.Conclusions The effects of leisure-time physical activity on age at menopause may be age-dependent. We found indications of earlier menopause for the least active women aged 19–49 years at baseline.

Circulation: Clinical Summaries

Circulation: Clinical Summaries

Leisure-time physical activity and marital status in relation to depression between men and women: A prospective study.

Previous studies have identified the preventive effect of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) on depression. Women and men have different emotional vulnerabilities. The impact of LTPA on depression varies by gender. Little is known about the impact of LTPA on depression for people with different marital status. The objective of this study was to assess the long-term effects of LTPA, changes in LTPA, and marital status on the risk of developing depression for general Canadians. Data from the biennial National Population Health Survey (NPHS) cycles conducted between 1994/95 and 2004/05 were analyzed in 2008. After excluding individuals with preexisting depression at baseline, respondents were classified as physically active or inactive and then followed up in subsequent cycles of the NPHS to look at risk of developing depression. Individuals who changed their activity level were also examined. Subgroup analyses by different marital status were performed to identify high-risk populations. In 1994/1995, 17,276 participants were included in the NPHS longitudinal panel. Respondents who were inactive were more likely to be older, female, obese, widowed/separated/divorced, not working, low income, and lacking social support. After controlling for potential confounding factors, it was found that LTPA reduced the risk of developing depression for women. The modest risk reduction observed for men was not statistically significant. Women who were active at baseline and two years of follow-up were significantly less likely to report depression at four years of follow-up compared to women who were inactive at baseline and at two years of follow-up. A 51% greater probability of developing depression was observed after two years for women who changed their LTPA from active to inactive compared to women who remained active. No significant results were found for men. Divorced/separated/widowed women who stopped LTPA had 4.2 times the risk of developing depression after two years compared to those who remained active. The risk of developing depression after stopping activity did not vary according to marital status among men. LTPA has preventive effects on depression for women. Reduction in LTPA level is associated with subsequent depression for women. Divorced/separated/widowed women are at particularly high risk of developing depression if LTPA is stopped.

Effect of regular physical activity on carotid intima-media thickness. Results from a 6-year prospective study in the early stage of hypertension

Aim. To study the effect of leisure-time physical activity on the progression of carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in the early stage of hypertension. Methods. We studied 47 sedentary and 40 physically active young pre-hypertensive or stage 1 hypertensive subjects. IMT was assessed in the common carotid artery, carotid bulb and internal carotid artery at baseline and after 6.5 years. Results. Cumulative maximum IMT of the three carotid segments (M-MAX, 0.13 ± 0.08 vs 0.10 ± 0.07 mm, p = 0.006) and cumulative mean IMT (m-IMT, 0.11 ± 0.07 vs 0.09 ± 0.06 mm, p = 0.01), adjusted for confounders, increased to a greater degree in the sedentary than the active subjects. Differences in known risk factors explained a large proportion of the observed association. Inclusion of baseline cholesterol in the regression model attenuated the strength of the association for both M-MAX (p = 0.04) and m-IMT (p = 0.049). When also baseline blood pressure, heart rate, and body mass index were taken into account the association with physical activity status remained significant for maximum IMT of internal carotid artery (p = 0.034) and was of borderline significance for M-MAX (p = 0.066). Conclusions. Physical activity can delay the progression of carotid IMT in hypertension. This effect is mediated in substantial part by the better risk factor profile in active subjects.

Does leisure time physical activity protect against shoulder pain at work?

Shoulder pain is a common problem that can impact on work. Leisure time physical activity (LTPA) has the potential to reduce the impact of shoulder pain through its physiological, psychological and social benefits. To determine whether LTPA reduces the prevalence of shoulder pain in a working population. Participants were selected from a longitudinal population-based cohort study, the North West Adelaide Health Study. Information was gathered by questionnaire on LTPA, smoking, depression and socio-economic factors. Body mass index was measured in a clinic setting. Occupational physical activity (OPA) estimated by job title and shoulder pain was measured using the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index. Workers with and without shoulder pain were compared using logistic regression analysis. Of the 1502 working participants, 16% reported having current shoulder pain. Shoulder pain was associated with older age (OR 1.98, 95% CI: 1.31-2.99) (age >50 years), smoking (OR 1.44, CI: 1.02-2.04), secondary-level educational attainment (OR 1.68, 95% CI: 1.07-2.65), high body mass index (BMI) (OR 1.54, 95% CI: 1.14-2.08) and depression (OR 2.42, 95% CI: 1.60-3.64). There was no effect of LTPA on shoulder pain. In this community-based cohort, there was no statistically significant association seen between LTPA, OPA and shoulder pain. There was, however, an association between smoking, BMI, secondary-level education, depression and shoulder pain. These modifiable factors may be better targets for preventive efforts than LTPA to reduce the risk of shoulder pain.

Leisure-time Physical Activity During Pregnancy And The Birth Weight Distribution: Where Is The Effect?

Previous reports have shown leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) during pregnancy to be related to small decreases in mean birth weight and/or decreased risk of giving birth to a large for gestational age infant. However, the effect of LTPA across the entire birth weight distribution has not been examined. PURPOSE: To characterize the relationship between pregnancy LTPA and birth weight. METHODS: Women enrolled in the Pregnancy Outcomes and Community Health Study (1998-2004) were followed-up in 2007. Follow-up efforts were extensive for a subcohort and minimal for the remainder, or non-subcohort. As a result, 596 (67% of eligible) subcohort and 418 (26% of eligible) non-subcohort women who delivered at term were included in this investigation. Original data collection provided maternal demographics. Medical records provided child gender, gestational age, and birth weight. Gender and gestational age-specific birth weight z-scores (BWz) were calculated and offspring were categorized as small-, appropriate-, or large-for-gestational-age (SGA, AGA, and LGA, respectively). At follow-up, women recalled pregnancy LTPA and were classified as inactive, insufficiently active (> 0 but < 7.5 kcal/kg/wk), and meeting LTPA recommendations (≥ 7.5 kcal/kg/wk). Linear, logistic, and quantile regression analyses were conducted separately by subcohort status. RESULTS: The subcohort had greater racial and socioeconomic diversity than the non-subcohort. In multivariate linear regressions, LTPA was not associated with changes in mean birth weight among either group. Among the non-subcohort, meeting LTPA recommendations significantly decreased odds of LGA (aOR=0.30, 95%CI: 0.14-0.64) without affecting odds of SGA. Quantile regression analyses showed that meeting LTPA recommendations was unrelated to BWz until the 0.65 quantile, after which it significantly reduced BWz among the non-subcohort. Results for the subcohort were similar but not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: LPTA during pregnancy appears to lower odds of LGA and reduce BWz among the upper quantiles without causing a mean shift in the entire distribution. Due to adverse maternal and child health effects associated with high birth weight, our results may indicate a substantial health benefit for LTPA during pregnancy.

Maternal Physical Activity and Child Body Size at 8-10 Years

Leisure time physical activity (LTPA) during pregnancy is related to slight decreases in birth weight within the normal range. However, the effect of LTPA during pregnancy on offspring body size in childhood is not known. PURPOSE: To evaluate the relationship between trimester specific maternal LTPA and body mass index (BMI), percent fatness (%fat), and waist circumference (WC) during childhood. METHODS: Mother/child (n = 20 pairs) height, weight, and %fat (BodPod) were assessed. WC was measured in children only, and BMI was calculated for both mother and child. Current maternal and child aerobic fitness (VO2max) were assessed with a graded exercise treadmill test. Current maternal LTPA and recalled pre-pregnancy and trimester-specific LTPA were assessed for a typical week via a Modified Activity Questionnaire (MET·min/week). Spearman correlations were used to assess relationships among variables. RESULTS: Mean (± SD) age, %fat, and VO2max for mothers was 41.1 ± 4.4 yrs, 32.6 ± 8.0 %, and 37.5 ± 12.5 ml/kg/min, respectively, and for children: 9.2 ± 0.7 yrs, 26.7 ± 6.5 %, and 46.5 ± 8.8 ml/kg/min, respectively. LTPA decreased during pregnancy: 1269 ± 1153, 1010 ± 984, and 795 ± 961 MET·min/week for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd trimesters, respectively. Maternal LTPA in the month before pregnancy was inversely related to child %fat (r = -0.60, p = 0.005). First trimester LTPA was not associated with any measure of child size. Second trimester LTPA was inversely correlated with child WC (r = -0.45, p = 0.048), while third trimester LTPA showed a trend for significance (r = -0.43, p = 0.056). Average PA across all three trimesters was not significantly related to any child body size variables (p > 0.05). Current maternal fitness was inversely correlated with child BMI (r = -0.46), %fat (r = -0.55), and WC (-0.56), all p < 0.05, while child fitness was only correlated with %fat (r = -0.68, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Maternal LTPA in mid-to-late pregnancy may be associated with child WC at 8-10 years of age and children of fit women appear to have more favorable body size measurements. These preliminary findings provide support for LTPA during pregnancy to have a beneficial effect on child body size.

Leisure-Time Physical Activity and the Metabolic Syndrome in the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study

OBJECTIVETo assess the effects of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and resistance training on metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components in a post hoc analysis of the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study, a randomized controlled lifestyle counseling trial.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSA cohort of 486 middle-aged overweight men and women with impaired glucose tolerance were followed for an average of 4.1 years. The intervention and control groups were combined in the analyses. LTPA was assessed by questionnaires, dietary intake by food records, and features of the MetS by anthropometric and biochemical measures annually. Resistance training sessions were documented for 137 participants.RESULTSIncreased moderate-to-vigorous LTPA, even after adjustments for changes in dietary intakes of total and saturated fat, fiber, and energy, and change in BMI was associated with a greater likelihood for resolution (29.7 vs. 19.1%; P = 0.004 in the upper versus lower third of change) and a lesser likelihood for development (23.5 vs. 44.7%; P = 0.041) of the MetS. Of the components of the MetS, the increase in moderate-to-vigorous LTPA was associated most strongly with improvement of glycemia. Among the 137 participants who participated in resistance training, MetS components were favorable in individuals who were in the upper third of participation rate (median 51 times/year) compared with individuals in the lowest third (median 8.5 times/year).CONCLUSIONSIncreased moderate-to-vigorous LTPA was associated with a decreased likelihood of developing the MetS and an increased likelihood of its resolution in individuals at high risk for type 2 diabetes.