Life-course leisure-time physical activity trajectories in relation to health-related behaviors in adulthood: the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns study

Abstract

Background Evidence on whether leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) facilitates individuals’ adoption of multiple healthy behaviors remains scarce. This study investigated the associations of diverse longitudinal LTPA trajectories from childhood to adulthood with diet, screen time, smoking, binge drinking, sleep difficulties, and sleep duration in adulthood. Methods Data were drawn from the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study. Participants were aged 9–18 years (N = 3553; 51% females) in 1980 and 33–49 years at the latest follow-up in 2011. The LTPA trajectories were identified using a latent profile analysis. Differences in self-reported health-related behaviors across the LTPA trajectories were studied separately for women and men by using the Bolck-Croon-Hagenaars approach. Models were adjusted for age, body mass index, education level, marital status, total energy intake and previous corresponding behaviors. Results Persistently active, persistently low-active, decreasingly and increasingly active trajectories were identified in both genders and an additional inactive trajectory for women. After adjusting the models with the above-mentioned covariates, the inactive women had an unhealthier diet than the women in the other trajectories (p < 0.01; effect size (ES) > 0.50). The low-active men followed an unhealthier diet than the persistently and increasingly active men (p < 0.01; ES > 0.50). Compared to their inactive and low-active peers, smoking frequency was lower in the increasingly active women and men (p < 0.01; ES > 0.20) and persistently active men (p < 0.05; ES > 0.20). The increasingly active men reported lower screen time than the low-active (p < 0.001; ES > 0.50) and persistently active (p < 0.05; ES > 0.20) men. The increasingly and persistently active women reported fewer sleep difficulties than the inactive (p < 0.001; ES > 0.80) and low-active (p < 0.05; ES > 0.50 and > 0.80, respectively) women. Sleep duration and binge drinking were not associated with the LTPA trajectories in either gender, nor were sleep difficulties in men and screen time in women. Conclusions Not only persistently higher LTPA but also an increasing tendency to engage in LTPA after childhood/adolescence were associated with healthier diet and lower smoking frequency in both genders, having less sleep difficulties in women and lower screen time in increasingly active men. Inactivity and low activity were associated with the accumulation of several unhealthy behaviors in adulthood. Associations were stronger in women.

Characterization of Trajectories of Physical Activity and Cigarette Smoking from Early Adolescence to Adulthood

“…These findings are consistent with several earlier studies that also found 3 to 4 subgroups of trajectories for both PA and cigarette smoking. 27,33,38,39,40 Similar to our study, one existing study on life-course trajectories of PA based on a Finnish sample have shown that overall PA level declines overtime and persistently low-activity group makes up the large proportion of the study population. Major changes in PA level also started during the transition period between adolescence to young adulthood around 21 years old.…”

Poor Health Related Quality of Life and Unhealthy Lifestyle Habits in Weight-Loss Treatment-Seeking Youth

“…The main objective of the treatment of pediatric obesity is a permanent change in the child's eating habits and lifestyle, leading to a negative caloric balance and a progressive weight loss. Another important goal is improving mental health and HRQOL [2].…”

“…Pediatric obesity, a multifactorial condition resulting from a complex interaction between individual, social, and environmental factors, represents a global public health problem [1]. Energy balance related behaviors leading to increased weight gain, such as inactivity and unbalanced diet, typically initiate in childhood, are reinforced during adolescence, a period of substantial physical, social and psychological changes, and are maintained throughout adulthood [2]. The literature has shown that these unhealthy behaviors are likely to cluster in the same individual [3] and exert their additive effect on the risk of pediatric obesity [4].…”

A parsimonious and comprehensive screening tool for adult health behaviors

“…Thus, some studies indicate that adoption of healthy behaviors gradually diminishes through early and middle adulthood, and these adults become vulnerable to some forms of chronic diseases. For instance, 51.8% of US adults had at least one of 10 selected diagnosed chronic conditions, and 27.2% had multiple chronic conditions (Boersma, Black, & Ward, 2020; Lounassalo et al., 2021). Therefore, a short, valid, and comprehensive assessment tool that can be used for screening unhealthy behaviors correlated with chronic disease proves important.…”