Associations of physical activity with body weight and fat in men and women

OBJECTIVE: Increasing physical activity is strongly advocated as a key publ ic health strategy for weight gain prevention. We investigated associations of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and occupational/domestic physica l activity with body mass index (BMI) and a skinfold-derived index of body fat (sum of six skinfolds), among normal-weight and overweight men and wome n. DESIGN: Analyses of cross-sectional self-report and measured anthropometric data. SUBJECTS: A total of 1302 men and women, aged 18-78y, who were part of a ra ndomly selected sample and who agreed to participate in a physical health a ssessment. MEASUREMENTS: Self-report measures of physical activity, measured height an d weight, and a skinfold-derived index of body fatness. RESULTS: Higher levels of LTPA were positively associated with the likeliho od of being in the normal BMI and lower body fat range for women, but few o r no associations were found for men. No associations were found between me asures of occupational/domestic activity and BMI or body fat for men or wom en. C ONCLUSION: By using a skinfold sum as a more direct measure of adiposity, t his study extends and confirms the previous research that has shown an asso ciation between BMI and LTPA. Our results suggest gender differences in the relationship of leisure-time physical activity with body fatness. These fi ndings, in conjunction with a better understanding of the causes of such di fferences, will have important public health implications for the developme nt and targeting of weight gain prevention strategies.