Physical activity (PA) is beneficial for reducing all-cause mortality, and expert guidelines recommend consistent PA of at least 150 min/week of moderate-intensity or 75min/week of vigorous-intensity aerobic PA for adults. Continuing regular PA as recommended over time results in more survival benefits. Maintenance of body weight has also been reported to be associated with improved survival. A stable body weight is associated with decreased mortality risk, while weight variability is related to an increased risk of mortality.

These two factors are tightly intertwined. Physical activity plays an important role in body weight regulation, and weight gain is associated with future physical inactivity. Therefore, a change in PA and a change in body weight cannot be considered independently. However, how a continuing regular PA and maintaining body weight interact is not clear.

Although there were a few studies focusing on the combined effects of PA and body mass index (BMI) on mortality, no study clearly demonstrated any significant interactions. Therefore, the aim of the study is to elucidate whether continuing regular PA and maintaining body weight have interactions in terms of the risk of all-cause mortality.

This large population-based study demonstrated that continuing regular PA as recommended and maintaining body weight have multiplicative and additive interactions on reducing all-cause mortality. Healthcare providers should emphasize both continuing regular PA and body weight maintenance for the general public.

In this framework, Low or no physical activity is one of the behavioural risk factors identified by the YOUNG50 project for the Cardiovascular diseases.

The YOUNG50 project, through its Cardio50 screening programme, aims to affect cardiovascular risk factors, given to eight major CVD risk factors, fall into two groups:

  • behavioral risk factors (diet, low physical activity, smoking, alcohol use);
  • medical risk factors (high systolic blood pressure, high total cholesterol, high fasting plasma glucose, and high body mass index (BMI).

 

Consult the study clicking HERE.