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Physical Activity and Adiposity-related Inflammation: The MESA
Chantal A Vella1, Matthew A Allison, Mary Cushman
11Department of Movement Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID; 2Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA; 3Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology Division, University of Vermont, Colchester, VT; 4Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Colchester, VT; 5Department of Health and Human Development, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT; 6Department of Clinical Cancer Prevention, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX; and 7Division of Cardiology, Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.
Regular moderate-to-vigorous physical activity is linked to reduced inflammation markers, even when accounting for central obesity. This supports physical activity
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Health
- Exercise Physiology
- Metabolic Health
Background:
- Physical activity is known to reduce inflammation associated with obesity.
- The independence of this association from central obesity is not well understood.
- Understanding this relationship is crucial for mitigating cardiometabolic disease risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if the association between physical activity and obesity-related inflammatory markers is independent of central adiposity.
- To clarify mechanisms linking physical activity to reduced cardiometabolic disease risk.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from 1970 Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis participants (2002-2005).
- Assessed physical activity, abdominal fat (visceral and subcutaneous) via CT scans, and inflammatory markers (adiponectin, leptin, IL-6, TNF-α, resistin).
- Employed analysis of covariance and multivariable-adjusted regression for statistical analysis.
Main Results:
- Higher moderate-to-vigorous physical activity correlated with increased adiponectin and decreased leptin, IL-6, and resistin.
- Associations with leptin, IL-6, and resistin remained significant and independent of total and central adiposity.
- The link between physical activity and adiponectin was diminished by central adiposity.
Conclusions:
- Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity is associated with a healthier inflammatory marker profile.
- These associations are independent of key cardiometabolic risk factors, including central obesity.
- Findings highlight physical activity's role in managing inflammation and reducing disease risk.