Relationships between weekly walking distance and adiposity in27,596 women are nonlinear with respect to both distance andadiposity
The cross-sectional relationships of weekly walking distance to BMI, body circumferences, and bra cup sizes are reported for 27,596 women. The percent reductions between walking 40-50 km/wk and < 10km/wk were greatest for BMI, substantial for waist circumference and cupsize, and least for hip and chest circumferences. The relationships between distance and adiposity were nonlinear with respect to both the independent (quadratic function of distance) and dependent variables(slope and curvilinearity depending upon the percentile of BMI, circumference, or cup size). The slope relating adiposity to km/wk were greatest (most negative) in overweight sedentary women and least in lean active women. For example, compared to women averaging 10 km/wk, the slope of BMI versus km/wk was 43 percent less at 25 km/wk and 87 percent less at 40 km/wk in overweight women (95th BMI percentile), but negligible at all distances in lean women (5th BMI percentile). The greater estimated decrease in BMI per km/wk in walkers than runners was largely accounted for (over 75 percent) by the walkers greater adiposity. Thus classical representations of the relationship between adiposity and moderate physical activity are inadequate for either statistical analyses or descriptive purposes. The clinical implications of these results and their statistical ramifications are discussed.
- Research Organization:
- Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley NationalLaboratory, Berkeley, CA (US)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE; US National Institutes of Health GrantHL-45652
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-05CH11231
- OSTI ID:
- 876718
- Report Number(s):
- LBNL--56695; BnR: 400412000
- Journal Information:
- American Journal of Epidemiology, Journal Name: American Journal of Epidemiology Journal Issue: 8 Vol. 13; ISSN 0002-9262; ISSN AJEPAS
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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