Objectively measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity does not attenuate prospective weight gain among african-origin adults spanning the epidemiological transition

Abstract Traditional obesity-related public health messaging often includes physical activity (PA) recommendations. However, at the population level, the data are conflicting, especially when comparing different self-reported vs. measured techniques across different settings and populations. We meas...

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Main Authors: Jessica C. Davies, Candice Choo-Kang, Larske Soepnel, Hayli Geffen, Chad Africa, Asanda Mtintsilana, Pascal Bovet, Bharathi Viswanathan, Kweku Bedu-Addo, Jacob Plange-Rhule, Prince Oti Boateng, Kingsley Apusiga, Oscar Akunor Dei, Terrence E. Forrester, Marie Williams, Estelle V. Lambert, Dale E. Rae, Nandipha Sinyanya, Brian T. Layden, Jack A. Gilbert, Gertrude Ecklu-Mensah, Cara Joyce, Amy Luke, Lara R. Dugas
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-02-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85383-7
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author Jessica C. Davies
Candice Choo-Kang
Larske Soepnel
Hayli Geffen
Chad Africa
Asanda Mtintsilana
Pascal Bovet
Bharathi Viswanathan
Kweku Bedu-Addo
Jacob Plange-Rhule
Prince Oti Boateng
Kingsley Apusiga
Oscar Akunor Dei
Terrence E. Forrester
Marie Williams
Estelle V. Lambert
Dale E. Rae
Nandipha Sinyanya
Brian T. Layden
Jack A. Gilbert
Gertrude Ecklu-Mensah
Cara Joyce
Amy Luke
Lara R. Dugas
author_facet Jessica C. Davies
Candice Choo-Kang
Larske Soepnel
Hayli Geffen
Chad Africa
Asanda Mtintsilana
Pascal Bovet
Bharathi Viswanathan
Kweku Bedu-Addo
Jacob Plange-Rhule
Prince Oti Boateng
Kingsley Apusiga
Oscar Akunor Dei
Terrence E. Forrester
Marie Williams
Estelle V. Lambert
Dale E. Rae
Nandipha Sinyanya
Brian T. Layden
Jack A. Gilbert
Gertrude Ecklu-Mensah
Cara Joyce
Amy Luke
Lara R. Dugas
author_sort Jessica C. Davies
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Traditional obesity-related public health messaging often includes physical activity (PA) recommendations. However, at the population level, the data are conflicting, especially when comparing different self-reported vs. measured techniques across different settings and populations. We measured the association between moderate-to-vigorous intensity PA (MVPA) and prospective weight change across five African-origin populations and the extent to which MVPA attenuated weight change over time. At baseline, 2,500 adults (median age: 37y) were recruited into the Modelling the Epidemiologic Transition Study (METS), from Ghana, South Africa, Jamaica, Seychelles, and US. 2000 participants were followed up 8 years later, with 851 participants having complete 7-day accelerometry to measure MVPA at both time points. Generalised estimating equations were used to explore the longitudinal association between weight and MVPA adjusted for several confounders. The obesity prevalence at baseline was 27.5% which increased to 38.0% at follow-up. Baseline MVPA varied from 7 (IQR: 4, 16) min/day in US women to 52 (IQR: 36, 78) min/day in South African men, and similarly at follow-up ranged from 8 min/day to 41 min/day among the same participant groups. While overall, engaging in higher MVPA levels was associated with a lower body weight, such that every additional 30 min of MVPA equalled a 600 g lower body weight (p = 0.04), the interaction between time and MVPA was not statistically significant (p = 0.18). Therefore, regardless of the amount of MVPA at any time point, body weight increased over time. Despite the association between MVPA and weight, our results suggest that objectively measured longitudinal MVPA was not associated with the change in 8-year weight in African-origin adults. Our research confirms that while PA is a critical determinant of cardiovascular health, it alone may not be enough to stem the rising obesity burden.
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spelling doaj-art-a3aa1a8c3faf4f928fbd0c7b15a5ba1e2025-08-20T03:04:01ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-02-0115111010.1038/s41598-025-85383-7Objectively measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity does not attenuate prospective weight gain among african-origin adults spanning the epidemiological transitionJessica C. Davies0Candice Choo-Kang1Larske Soepnel2Hayli Geffen3Chad Africa4Asanda Mtintsilana5Pascal Bovet6Bharathi Viswanathan7Kweku Bedu-Addo8Jacob Plange-Rhule9Prince Oti Boateng10Kingsley Apusiga11Oscar Akunor Dei12Terrence E. Forrester13Marie Williams14Estelle V. Lambert15Dale E. Rae16Nandipha Sinyanya17Brian T. Layden18Jack A. Gilbert19Gertrude Ecklu-Mensah20Cara Joyce21Amy Luke22Lara R. Dugas23Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape TownPublic Health Sciences, Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health, Loyola University ChicagoDivision of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape TownDivision of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape TownDivision of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape TownDivision of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape TownUniversity Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté)Ministry of HealthDepartment of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologySolutions for Developing Countries, University of the West IndiesSolutions for Developing Countries, University of the West IndiesResearch Centre for Health through Physical Activity, Lifestyle and Sport (HPALS), Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape TownResearch Centre for Health through Physical Activity, Lifestyle and Sport (HPALS), Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape TownResearch Centre for Health through Physical Activity, Lifestyle and Sport (HPALS), Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape TownDepartment of Medicine, University of Illinois at ChicagoDepartment of Pediatrics, Center for Microbiome Innovation, University of California San DiegoDepartment of Pediatrics, Center for Microbiome Innovation, University of California San DiegoPublic Health Sciences, Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health, Loyola University ChicagoPublic Health Sciences, Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health, Loyola University ChicagoDivision of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape TownAbstract Traditional obesity-related public health messaging often includes physical activity (PA) recommendations. However, at the population level, the data are conflicting, especially when comparing different self-reported vs. measured techniques across different settings and populations. We measured the association between moderate-to-vigorous intensity PA (MVPA) and prospective weight change across five African-origin populations and the extent to which MVPA attenuated weight change over time. At baseline, 2,500 adults (median age: 37y) were recruited into the Modelling the Epidemiologic Transition Study (METS), from Ghana, South Africa, Jamaica, Seychelles, and US. 2000 participants were followed up 8 years later, with 851 participants having complete 7-day accelerometry to measure MVPA at both time points. Generalised estimating equations were used to explore the longitudinal association between weight and MVPA adjusted for several confounders. The obesity prevalence at baseline was 27.5% which increased to 38.0% at follow-up. Baseline MVPA varied from 7 (IQR: 4, 16) min/day in US women to 52 (IQR: 36, 78) min/day in South African men, and similarly at follow-up ranged from 8 min/day to 41 min/day among the same participant groups. While overall, engaging in higher MVPA levels was associated with a lower body weight, such that every additional 30 min of MVPA equalled a 600 g lower body weight (p = 0.04), the interaction between time and MVPA was not statistically significant (p = 0.18). Therefore, regardless of the amount of MVPA at any time point, body weight increased over time. Despite the association between MVPA and weight, our results suggest that objectively measured longitudinal MVPA was not associated with the change in 8-year weight in African-origin adults. Our research confirms that while PA is a critical determinant of cardiovascular health, it alone may not be enough to stem the rising obesity burden.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85383-7Objectively measured physical activityProspective weight changeObesity
spellingShingle Jessica C. Davies
Candice Choo-Kang
Larske Soepnel
Hayli Geffen
Chad Africa
Asanda Mtintsilana
Pascal Bovet
Bharathi Viswanathan
Kweku Bedu-Addo
Jacob Plange-Rhule
Prince Oti Boateng
Kingsley Apusiga
Oscar Akunor Dei
Terrence E. Forrester
Marie Williams
Estelle V. Lambert
Dale E. Rae
Nandipha Sinyanya
Brian T. Layden
Jack A. Gilbert
Gertrude Ecklu-Mensah
Cara Joyce
Amy Luke
Lara R. Dugas
Objectively measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity does not attenuate prospective weight gain among african-origin adults spanning the epidemiological transition
Scientific Reports
Objectively measured physical activity
Prospective weight change
Obesity
title Objectively measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity does not attenuate prospective weight gain among african-origin adults spanning the epidemiological transition
title_full Objectively measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity does not attenuate prospective weight gain among african-origin adults spanning the epidemiological transition
title_fullStr Objectively measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity does not attenuate prospective weight gain among african-origin adults spanning the epidemiological transition
title_full_unstemmed Objectively measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity does not attenuate prospective weight gain among african-origin adults spanning the epidemiological transition
title_short Objectively measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity does not attenuate prospective weight gain among african-origin adults spanning the epidemiological transition
title_sort objectively measured moderate to vigorous physical activity does not attenuate prospective weight gain among african origin adults spanning the epidemiological transition
topic Objectively measured physical activity
Prospective weight change
Obesity
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85383-7
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