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Determining the amount of physical activity needed for long-term weight control

International Journal of Obesity volume 25, pages 613–621 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate prospectively the influence of habitual physical activity on body weight of men and women and to develop a model that defines the role of physical activity on longitudinal weight change.

DESIGN AND SETTING: Occupational cohort study conducted for a mean of 5.5 y.

SUBJECTS: A total of 496 (341 male and 155 female) NASA/Johnson Space Center employees who completed the 3 month education component of the employee health-related fitness program and remained involved for a minimum of 2 y.

MEASUREMENTS: Body weights were measured at baseline (T1) and follow-up (T2), and habitual physical activity was obtained from the mean of multiple ratings of the 11-point (0–10) NASA Activity Scale (NAS) recorded quarterly between T1 and T2. Other measures included age, gender, VO2 max obtained from maximal treadmill testing, body mass index (BMI), and body fat percentage.

RESULTS: Multiple regression demonstrated that mean NAS, T1 weight, aging and gender all influence long-term T2 weight. T1 age was significant for the men only. Independently, each increase in mean NAS significantly (P<0.01) reduced T2 weight in men (b=−0.91 kg; 95% CI:−1.4 to−0.42 kg) and women (b=−2.14 kg; 95% CI:−2.93 to−1.35 kg). Mean NAS had a greater effect on T2 weight as T1 weight increased, and the relationship was dose-dependent.

CONCLUSIONS: Habitual physical activity is a significant source of long-term weight change. The use of self-reported activity level is helpful in predicting long-term weight changes and may be used by health care professionals when counseling patients about the value of physical activity for weight control.

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Acknowledgements

This work was partially supported by a Minority Scientist Development Award from the American Heart Association and with funds contributed by the AHA, Puerto Rico Affiliate.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Health-Related Fitness, NASA/Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas, USA

    LT Wier & GW Ayers

  2. Department of Health and Human Performance, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA

    AS Jackson

  3. Kelsey Seybold Clinic, NASA/Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas, USA

    AC Rossum

  4. University of Missouri at Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri, USA

    WS Carlos Poston

  5. Behavioral Medicine Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA

    JP Foreyt

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  6. JP Foreyt
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to LT Wier.

Appendix NASA activity scale (NAS)

Appendix NASA activity scale (NAS)

Code for physical activity status

Select the appropriate number (0–10) in the space for physical activity code according to which of the following best describes your activity level for the previous month:

Do not exercise regularly, ie

0:

Avoid walking or exertion, eg always use elevator, drive whenever possible instead of walking.

1:

Walk for pleasure, routinely use stairs, occasionally exercise sufficiently to cause heavy breathing or perspiration.

Participate regularly in recreation or work requiring modest physical activity, such as golf, horseback riding, calisthenics, table tennis, bowling, weight-lifting or yard work.

2:

10–60 min per week.

3:

Over 1 h per week.

Participate regularly in heavy physical exercise, eg, running or a comparable activity such as brisk walking, indoor biking, swimming, cycling, rowing, skipping rope, running in place, or engaging in vigorous aerobic exercise such as tennis, basketball, or handball.

4:

Run less than 1 mile per week or walk less than 1.3 miles per week or spend less than 30 min per week in comparable physical activity.

5:

Run 1–5 miles per week or walk 1.3–6.9 miles per week or spend 30–60 min per week in comparable physical activity.

6:

Run 6–10 miles per week or walk 7–13.9 miles per week or spend 1–3 h per week in comparable physical activity.

7:

Run 11–15 miles per week or walk 14–20 miles per week or spend 4–6 h per week in comparable physical activity.

8:

Run 16–20 miles per week or walk 21–26.9 miles per week or spend 7–9 h per week in comparable physical activity.

9:

Run 21–25 miles per week or walk 27–33.9 miles per week or spend 10–12 h per week in comparable physical activity.

10:

Run over 25 miles per week or walk over 34 miles per week or spend over 12 h per week in comparable physical activity.

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Wier, L., Ayers, G., Jackson, A. et al. Determining the amount of physical activity needed for long-term weight control. Int J Obes 25, 613–621 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0801586

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