Association between physical activity and body fat percentage, with adjustment for BMI: a large cross-sectional analysis of UK Biobank

Abstract

ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to examine if, in the general population, physically active adults have less body fat after taking body mass index (BMI) into account.DesignA cross-sectional analysis of participants recruited into UK Biobank in 2006–2010.SettingUK Biobank assessment centres throughout the UK.Participants119 230 men and 140 578 women aged 40–69 years, with complete physical activity information, and without a self-reported long-term illness, disability or infirmity.ExposuresPhysical activity measured as excess metabolic equivalent (MET)-hours per week, estimated from a combination of walking, and moderate and vigorous physical activity. BMI from measured height and weight.Main outcome measureBody fat percentage estimated from bioimpedance.ResultsBMI and body fat percentage were highly correlated (r=0.85 in women; r=0.79 in men), and both were inversely associated with physical activity. Compared with <5 excess MET-hours/week at baseline, ≥100 excess MET-hours/week were associated with a 1.1 kg/m2 lower BMI (27.1 vs 28.2 kg/m2) and 2.8 percentage points lower body fat (23.4% vs 26.3%) in men, and 2.2 kg/m2 lower BMI (25.6 vs 27.7 kg/m2) and 4.0 percentage points lower body fat (33.9% vs 37.9%) in women. For a given BMI, greater physical activity was associated with lower average body fat percentage (for a BMI of 22.5–24.99 kg/m2: 2.0 (95% CI 1.8 to 2.2), percentage points lower body fat in men and 1.8 (95% CI 1.6 to 2.0) percentage points lower body fat in women, comparing ≥100 excess MET-hours per week with <5 excess MET-hours/week).ConclusionsIn this sample of middle-aged adults, drawn from the general population, physical activity was inversely associated with BMI and body fat percentage. For people with the same BMI, those who were more active had a lower body fat percentage.

Modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors for COVID-19: results from UK Biobank

“…Social distancing reduces viral transmission, but also has consequences for lifestyle. Previous data suggests that physical fitness can be rapidly lost when activity levels decrease 20,21 , and this will also result in an increase in BMI 22,23 . Further, social distancing may increase loneliness, depression, and psychological stress in some people and consequently adversely affect eating habits 24 and other health behaviours.…”

Correlation between dietary fat consumption with body mass index and body composition (a preliminary study in community based)

“…Studies that measure relation between physical activity and body composition showed that, greater physical activity was associated with lower average body fat percentage (for a BMI of 22.5-24.99 kg/m 2 : 2.0 (95% CI 1.8 to 2.2), percentage points lower body fat in men and 1.8 (95% CI 1.6 to 2.0) percentage points lower body fat in women. 13 The study showed that consumption of dietary sugar could increase obesity and metabolic disease like type 2 diabetes 14 , a further study that also calculates sugar intake are needed.…”

GWAS identifies 10 loci for objectively-measured physical activity and sleep with causal roles in cardiometabolic disease.

“…After quality control, 91,112 participants of European descent and 14,666,529 SNPs remained for subsequent genetic association analysis (Methods). Using similar quality control criteria, we also extracted information on self-reported physical activity (via the international physical activity questionnaire short-form 15 ) for 351,154 UK Biobank participants of European descent (Methods). To maximise statistical power, we performed our analyses in BOLT-LMM 16 , which applies a linear mixed model to the data, allowing for inclusion of related individuals and those of varying genetic ancestry 17 .…”

“…We also extracted information on self-reported physical activity (via the international physical questionnaire short-form 15 ). Here, self-reported walking (field #874), moderate (#894), and vigorous (#914) activity duration were converted into MET-hours (a unit of physical activity energy expenditure) following procedures described elsewhere 15 .…”

“…We also extracted information on self-reported physical activity (via the international physical questionnaire short-form 15 ). Here, self-reported walking (field #874), moderate (#894), and vigorous (#914) activity duration were converted into MET-hours (a unit of physical activity energy expenditure) following procedures described elsewhere 15 . Rather than ignoring participants at the bottom end of the self-reported activity spectrum 8 , we included such participants who answered '0' to number of days in a week that they walked (field #864) or did moderate (#field 884) or vigorous (field #904) intensity activity (for at least 10 minutes).…”