Long term physical activity and weight gain in middle age

January 01, 0001

Long term physical activity and weight gain in middle age

These US researchers evaluated the long term relationship between habitual activity levels and changes in body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference. The performed a prospective longitudinal study with 20 years of follow-up called the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study (n=3554). Physical activity was defined as maintaining high, moderate, and low activity levels based tertiles of baseline activity scores.

The researchers found: "Over 20 years, maintaining high levels of activity was associated with smaller gains in BMI and waist circumference compared with low activity levels after adjustment for race, baseline BMI, age, education, cigarette smoking status, alcohol use, and energy intake. Men maintaining high activity gained 2.6 fewer kilograms (+0.15 BMI units per year vs +0.20 in the lower activity group), and women maintaining higher activity gained 6.1 fewer kilograms (+0.17 BMI units per year vs +0.30 in the lower activity group). Men maintaining high activity gained 3.1 fewer centimeters in waist circumference (+0.52 cm per year vs 0.67 cm in the lower activity group) and women maintaining higher activity gained 3.8 fewer centimeters (+0.49 cm per year vs 0.67 cm in the lower activity group)."

The researchers concluded: "Maintaining high activity levels through young adulthood may lessen weight gain as young adults transition to middle age, particularly in women."

This study reinforces the role of physical activity in maintaining a healthy weight


For the full abstract, click here.

JAMA 304(23):2603-2610 , 15 December 2010 © 2010 American Medical Association
Maintaining a High Physical Activity Level Over 20 Years and Weight Gain. Arlene L. Hankinson, Martha L. Daviglus, Claude Bouchard, et al.

Category: T. Endocrine/Metabolic/Nutritional. Keywords: physical activity, weight, BMI, waist circumference, prospective cohort study, journal watch.
Synopsis edited by Dr Paul Schaefer, Toledo, Ohio. Posted on Global Family Doctor 7 January 2011

Pearls are an independent product of the Cochrane primary care group and are meant for educational use and not to guide clinical care.

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