Associations of changes in physical activity and diet with incident obesity and changes in adiposity: Longitudinal findings from the UK Biobank

Oral Presentation A10.3

Authors

  • Matthew N. Ahmadi University of Sydney
  • Elif Inan-Eroglu University of Sydney
  • Gita D. Mishra University of Queensland
  • Amanda Sainsbury University of Western Australia
  • Emmanuel Stamatakis University of Sydney

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14288/hfjc.v14i3.419

Keywords:

Physical Activity, Diet, Body Mass Index, Waist Circumference, Obesity

Abstract

Background: Although diet and physical activity (PA) determine energy balance, little evidence exists on their relative long-term contributions to obesity development. Purpose: To examine the joint effects of PA and diet on obesity incidence and indicators of adiposity. Methods: Baseline PA was categorized into three groups based on WHO guidelines (inactive, insufficient, sufficient) and grouped as decreased, stable, or increased at follow-up. Dietary scores included consumption of fruits, vegetables, fish, processed meats, and red meats. Diet scores (0-4) were categorized as worsened, stable, or improved. Odds ratio (OR) for obesity incidence by joint PA and diet variables were examined with  logistic regression, and changes in adiposity markers were examined with generalized linear models. Results: A total of 31,344 participants without obesity at baseline were followed up for 6.8 (2.3) years. We found the lowest obesity development risk estimates in the groups that increased PA, regardless of changes in diet score (OR = 0.65 to 0.89), relative to the stable PA and diet score. The protective associations of increasing PA were accentuated among participants with no history of smoking, cardiovascular disease or cancer. Among PA increasers, obesity risk decreased (OR = 0.54 to 0.68), whilst a decrease in body mass index (-0.25 to -0.42 kg/m2) and waist circumference (-77 to -1.41cm) was observed with concurrent stable/improved diet score. Conclusions: Increasing PA with concurrent diet stability/improvement was associated with the lowest  obesity risks over time. PA improvements conferred more  pronounced protection against obesity development risk than diet. Funding: National Health and Medical Research Council Ideas Grant (APP 1180812).

Published

2021-09-30

How to Cite

Ahmadi, M. N., Inan-Eroglu, E., Mishra, G. D., Sainsbury, A., & Stamatakis, E. (2021). Associations of changes in physical activity and diet with incident obesity and changes in adiposity: Longitudinal findings from the UK Biobank: Oral Presentation A10.3. The Health & Fitness Journal of Canada, 14(3). https://doi.org/10.14288/hfjc.v14i3.419

Most read articles by the same author(s)