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Obesity, Leanness, and Mortality: Effect Modification by Physical Activity in Men and Women
Author(s) -
Heitmann Berit L.,
Hills Andrew P.,
Frederiksen Peder,
Ward Leigh C.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
obesity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.438
H-Index - 199
eISSN - 1930-739X
pISSN - 1930-7381
DOI - 10.1038/oby.2008.479
Subject(s) - medicine , hazard ratio , obesity , demography , physical activity , body mass index , waist , proportional hazards model , gerontology , physical therapy , confidence interval , sociology
The 13‐year mortality from BMI, body fat (BF), and fat‐free mass (FFM) was examined among active and sedentary adults. In total, 2,819 men and women aged 35–65 years in 1987/1988, participating in the Danish MONICA project, were included, and followed for 13.6 years for total mortality. In men, physical activity modified the health hazard of both a high and a low BMI, and the U‐shaped association disappeared among the active (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.86, CI: 0.72–1.02). Among active men, FFM was inversely related to mortality (HR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.40–0.77) whereas a direct positive trend was seen for BF. Among women, physical activity modified association between BMI and mortality, but the U‐shaped association remained among the active. Among women, no significant associations were found between either BF or FFM and total mortality. All effects were independent of waist‐ and hip‐circumferences. In conclusion, among men, physical activity may play an important role for the prevention of early mortality beyond its direct effects, by modifying the health hazard of both a high and a low BMI, and by lowering the risk associated with a high BF or a low FFM. Among women physical activity lowers mortality, but an effect‐modifying potential of physical activity on associations between BMI or body composition could not be identified.