Efeito combinado da atividade física no tempo livre e do comportamento sedentário na obesidade abdominal em participantes do ELSA-Brasil.

Abstract

Introduction: Abdominal obesity is a pattern of obesity that has been considered a public health problem because it is associated with cardiometabolic diseases and death. Physical activity is considered an important factor in preventing abdominal obesity. Increased time spent in sedentary behavior has been associated with negative health outcomes, among them abdominal obesity. Objectives: To identify which combination of leisure-time physical activity and sedentary behavior most contributes to the prevention of abdominal obesity in adults participating in ELSA-Brazil. Method: Cross-sectional study with participants from the first follow-up of the ELSA-Brazil cohort (2012-2014). A total of 14,014 participants were selected. The independent variables were physical activity and sedentary behavior; the dependent variable was abdominal obesity. The associations between the dependent variable and the independent variables were analyzed using logistic regression. The OR (odds ratio) with 95% CI was estimated. The variables age, income, education, weekly beer consumption, smoking, and menopause were tested as possible confounders and/or effect modifiers. Results: For men, the combinations were more significant when they were more physically active and spent less time in the sedentary behaviors analyzed, both on a weekday and a weekend day. For menopausal women, both younger and older, all the associations of the combinations between sufficient LTPA and little time spent in sedentary behaviors contributed to the prevention of abdominal obesity. In non-menopausal women, positive associations were observed only when there was sufficient LTPA and little time spent in sedentary behaviors. Discussion: The findings among men and menopausal women corroborate the findings of articles that address the same issue, i.e., being active and staying less time in sedentary behaviors prevent abdominal obesity and other diseases. In non-menopausal women, few associations were positive, and further research on this theme is needed. Conclusion: The combination that contributed most to the prevention of abdominal obesity was being more physically active and spending less time in sedentary behavior, despite some differences in the results of women without menopause.