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Leisure-Time Physical Activity and Obesity Risk in Adults in Mexico
Fanny Petermann-Rocha1, Evelia Apolinar-Jiménez2, Gerson Ferrari3
1Centro de Investigación Biomédica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Diego Portales, Santiago, Chile; School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
American Journal of Preventive Medicine
|February 10, 2025
Summary
Engaging in medium to high leisure-time physical activity is linked to lower risks of abdominal and general obesity in Mexican adults. This finding highlights the importance of physical activity for weight management in the region.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Obesity Research
Background:
- Limited data exists on the long-term relationship between physical activity and obesity in Latin America.
- Understanding these associations is crucial for developing targeted public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the longitudinal associations between leisure-time physical activity and both abdominal and general obesity.
- The study focused on adults residing in Mexico.
Main Methods:
- The Mexico City Prospective Study cohort was used, with baseline surveys from 1998-2004 and resurveys from 2015-2019.
- Leisure-time physical activity was categorized as none/low versus medium/high.
- Abdominal obesity (waist circumference) and general obesity (body mass index) were assessed at resurvey. Logistic regression adjusted for covariates.
Main Results:
- The analysis included 9,782 adults.
- Individuals with medium or high leisure-time physical activity showed reduced odds of abdominal obesity (OR=0.86, 95% CI: 0.76-0.98) and general obesity (OR=0.85, 95% CI: 0.75-0.96) compared to those with low/no activity.
- Findings were consistent in never-smokers and across different obesity definitions.
Conclusions:
- Leisure-time physical activity is associated with a decreased risk of developing both abdominal and general obesity in Mexican adults.
- This study provides novel evidence supporting the role of physical activity in obesity prevention in this population.
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