Physical activity and dietary fiber determine population body fat levels: the Seven Countries Study

BACKGROUND: A global epidemic of obesity is developing. Current prevalence rates are about 20-25% in American adults and 15-20% in Europeans. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the association between population levels of phy sical activity, dietary fat, dietary fiber and indicators of body fat. DESIGN: Cross-cultural study of 16 cohorts of, in total, 12 763 middle-aged men in seven countries. These men were examined between 1958 and 1964. MEASUREMENTS: Height, weight and subscapular skinfold thickness were measur ed. Information about job-related physical activity and diet was gathered b y questionnaire. RESULTS: The population average body mass index (weight/height(2)) varied b etween 21.8 and 26.0 kg/m(2) and the population average subscapular skinfol d thickness between 8.4 and 23.7 mm. The population average physical activi ty index and dietary fiber intake were both strongly inversely related to p opulation average subscapular skinfold thickness and explained together 90% of the variance in subscapular skinfold thickness. Similar but less strong results were obtained for average population body mass index. CONCLUSION: At the population level job-related physical activity and dieta ry fiber but not dietary fat, are important determinants of subscapular ski nfold thickness.