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Physical Activity, Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Body Mass Index as Predictors of Substantial Weight Gain and Obesity

The Canadian Physical Activity Longitudinal Study

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Abstract

Background

Obesity is a growing health issue in Canada and the identification of the determinants of obesity is important for the development of prevention strategies. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the relationships between physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, body mass index (BMI), and the development of future obesity.

Methods

The sample included 459 adults (18+ y; 223 men, 236 women) from the Canadian Physical Activity Longitudinal Study (PALS; 2002–04). Data on physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, BMI, and cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2max) were collected in 1981 and 1988. The mean BMI, physical activity, and VO2max were calculated across the 1981 and 1988 measures. Self-reported height and weight were collected in the 2002–04 survey, and participants were classified as overweight (BMI 25 to 29.9 kg/m2) or obese (BMI ≥30 kg/m2). Logistic regression was used to predict overweight, obesity or substantial weight gain (10 kg or more) in 2002–04, controlling for age, sex, smoking and alcohol use.

Results

Higher VO2max in 1981–88 was associated with lower odds of obesity in 2002–04 (OR=0.87; 95% CI: 0.76–0.99, p<0.05), and higher BMI in 1981–88 was associated with higher odds of obesity in 2002–04 (1.84; 1.52–2.20, p<0.0001). In women, higher VO2max(0.82; 0.72–0.93) resulted in lower odds of a 10 kg weight gain.

Conclusions

The results indicate that cardiorespiratory fitness and previous BMI are important predictors of future weight gain and obesity, and should be incorporated in strategies to identify individuals at increased risk of obesity.

Résumé

Contexte

L’obésité est un problème de santé de plus en plus présent au Canada, d’où l’importance d’en définir les déterminants pour élaborer des stratégies de prévention. L’objet de notre enquête était de déterminer les liens entre l’activité physique, l’endurance cardiorespiratoire, l’indice de masse corporelle (IMC) et l’obésité future.

Méthode

Notre échantillon de 459 adultes (18 ans et plus; 223 hommes, 236 femmes) était tiré de l’Enquête condition physique Canada (2002–2004). Les données sur l’activité physique, le tabagisme, la consommation d’alcool, l’IMC et l’endurance cardiorespiratoire (test VO2max) ont été recueillies en 1981 et en 1988. Nous avons calculé les moyennes de l’IMC, de l’activité physique et du VO2max des enquêtes de 1981 et de 1988. D’après les données sur la taille et le poids déclarées par les intéressés dans l’enquête de 2002–2004, nous avons classé les participants comme étant obèses (IMC ≥ 30 kg/m2) ou faisant de l’embonpoint (IMC de 25 à 29,9 kg/m2). Au moyen d’une analyse de régression logistique, nous avons prédit le surpoids, l’obésité ou les gains de poids importants (10 kg et plus) en 2002–2004, après avoir apporté des ajustements pour tenir compte des effets de l’âge, du sexe, du tabagisme et de la consommation d’alcool.

Résultats

Un VO2max élevé en 1981–1988 était associé à une faible probabilité d’obésité en 2002–2004 (RC = 0,87; IC de 95 % = 0,76–0,99, p<0,05), et un IMC élevé en 1981–1988 était associé à une probabilité d’obésité élevée en 2002–2004 (1,84; 1,52–2,20, p<0,0001). Chez les femmes, un VO2max élevé (0,82; 0,72–0,93) a entraîné une faible probabilité de gain de poids de 10 kg ou plus.

Conclusion

Ces résultats montrent que l’endurance cardiorespiratoire et l’IMC antérieur sont d’importants prédicteurs du gain de poids et de l’obésité futurs; il faudrait donc en tenir compte dans les stratégies ciblant les personnes qui présentent un risque d’obésité accru.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Kinesiology and Health Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada

    Susan E. Brien PhD &  Peter T. Katzmarzyk PhD

  2. Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada

    Peter T. Katzmarzyk PhD

  3. Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    Cora L. Craig MSc

  4. Département de médecine sociale et préventive et Groupe de recherche interdisciplinaire en santé, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada

    Lise Gauvin PhD

Authors
  1. Susan E. Brien PhD
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  2. Peter T. Katzmarzyk PhD
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  3. Cora L. Craig MSc
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  4. Lise Gauvin PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peter T. Katzmarzyk PhD.

Additional information

Acknowledgement of funding: Funded by a grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Strategic Joint Initiative Grant on Society, Culture and the Health of Canadians II Grant No. 839-2000-1032). The 1981 Canada Fitness Survey was supported by Fitness and Amateur Sport (now the Physical Activity Unit of Health Canada) and the 1988 Campbell’s Survey on Well Being was funded by Fitness and Amateur Sport, the National Health Research and Development Program of Health Canada (Grant No. 6606-3217-46), and the Campbell Soup Company Ltd. S.E.B. is funded by a post-doctoral fellowship from the Canadian Heart Health Surveys Follow-up Study, which is funded through a New Emerging Team grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.

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Brien, S.E., Katzmarzyk, P.T., Craig, C.L. et al. Physical Activity, Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Body Mass Index as Predictors of Substantial Weight Gain and Obesity. Can J Public Health 98, 121–124 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404322

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404322

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