@article{2988784,
    title = "Physical activity and gain in abdominal adiposity and body weight: Prospective cohort study in 288,498 men and women",
    author = "Ekelund, U. and Besson, H. and Luan, J. and May, A.M. and Sharp, S.J. and Brage, S. and Travier, N. and Agudo, A. and Slimani, N. and Rinaldi, S. and Jenab, M. and Norat, T. and Mouw, T. and Rohrmann, S. and Kaaks, R. and Bergmann, M.M. and Boeing, H. and Clavel-Chapelon, F. and Boutron-Ruault, M.-C. and Overvad, K. and Jakobsen, M.U. and Johnsen, N.F. and Halkjaer, J. and Gonzalez, C.A. and Rodriguez, L. and Sanchez, M.J. and Arriola, L. and Barricarte, A. and Navarro, C. and Key, T.J. and Spencer, E.A. and Orfanos, P. and Naska, A. and Trichopoulou, A. and Manjer, J. and Lund, E. and Palli, D. and Pala, V. and Vineis, P. and Mattiello, A. and Tumino, R. and Bueno-de-Mesquita, H.B. and Van Den Berg, S.W. and Odysseos, A.D. and Riboli, E. and Wareham, N.J. and Peeters, P.H.",
    journal = "AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NUTRITION",
    year = "2011",
    volume = "93",
    number = "4",
    pages = "826-835",
    issn = "0002-9165",
    doi = "10.3945/ajcn.110.006593",
    keywords = "abdominal obesity;  adult;  aged;  alcohol consumption;  article;  body weight;  caloric intake;  educational status;  female;  follow up;  human;  lifestyle;  major clinical study;  male;  physical activity;  questionnaire;  self report;  smoking;  waist circumference;  weight gain, Abdominal Fat;  Adult;  Aged;  Body Weight;  Data Collection;  Exercise;  Female;  Humans;  Male;  Middle Aged;  Obesity, Abdominal;  Prospective Studies;  Questionnaires;  Risk Factors;  Waist Circumference;  Weight Gain",
    abstract = "Background: The protective effect of physical activity (PA) on abdominal adiposity is unclear. Objective: We examined whether PA independently predicted gains in body weight and abdominal adiposity. Design: In a prospective cohort study [the EPIC (European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition)], we followed 84,511 men and 203,987 women for 5.1 y. PA was assessed by a validated questionnaire, and individuals were categorized into 4 groups (inactive, moderately inactive, moderately active, and active). Body weight and waist circumference were measured at baseline and self-reported at follow-up. We used multilevel mixed-effects linear regression models and stratified our analyses by sex with adjustments for age, smoking status, alcohol consumption, educational level, total energy intake, duration of follow-up, baseline body weight, change in body weight, and waist circumference (when applicable). Results: PA significantly predicted a lower waist circumference (in cm) in men (β = -0.045; 95% CI: -0.057, -0.034) and in women (β = -0.035; 95% CI: -0.056, -0.015) independent of baseline body weight, baseline waist circumference, and other confounding factors. The magnitude of associations was materially unchanged after adjustment for change in body weight. PA was not significantly associated with annual weight gain (in kg) in men (β = -0.008; 95% CI: -0.02, 0.003) and women (β = -0.01; 95% CI: -0.02, 0.0006). The odds of becoming obese were reduced by 7% (P < 0.001) and 10% (P < 0.001) for a one-category difference in baseline PA in men and women, respectively. Conclusion: Our results suggest that a higher level of PA reduces abdominal adiposity independent of baseline and changes in body weight and is thus a useful strategy for preventing chronic diseases and premature deaths. © 2011 American Society for Nutrition."
}