Habitual physical activity and serum lipids: Males, age 16–64 in a total community

doi:10.1016/0021-9681(76)90071-0

Journal of Chronic Diseases

Volume 29, Issue 11, November 1976, Pages 697-709

Journal of Chronic D...

https://doi.org/10.1016/0021-9681(76)90071-0 Get rights and content

Abstract

More than 1000 males were classified into one of three groups (active, moderately active or sedentary) on the basis of their occupation and leisure time activity. This was done in age specific groups to eliminate the influence of age in the analyses. Blood samples were drawn from these subjects in a non-fasting state. Total cholesterol and triglycerides concentration were determined. Serum cholesterol and, to a lesser extent, serum triglycerides were lower in the active subjects. Diet did not account for the differences. The question was then raised whether the activity-serum relationships would persist if corrected for body fatness of the subjects. The sum of four skinfolds was available as a measure of body fatness. The sum of skinfolds was significantly related to inactivity and the concentration of cholesterol and triglycerides. When corrected for body fatness, there appeared to be little relationship between physical activity and serum lipids.

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Cited by (27)

Longitudinal trends in total serum cholesterol levels in a Japanese cohort, 1958-1986
1997, Journal of Clinical Epidemiology
The 28-year follow-up of a Japanese cohort, having collected vast amounts of data collected on total serum cholesterol (TC), provided an exceptional opportunity to examine TC temporal trends. The longitudinal statistical method of growth-curve analysis was used to elucidate the age-related changes in TC levels and to characterize these trends in relation to sex, birth cohort, time period, place of residence, and body mass index (BMI).
Japanese TC levels at initial examination were remarkably lower than those in western countries. During the study period from 1958 to 1986, TC levels increased dramatically with age in both sexes. The slope of the cholesterol growth curve was steeper for women than for men, with the difference growing larger after age 40 years. Drastic changes in Japanese behavior and lifestyle, especially westernization of the diet, are thought to have affected the TC values as time-period effects. As a result of this temporal change, which affected different cohorts at different ages, TC values were higher in members of the younger cohort. The increase of the TC values as time-period effects were larger in earlier period than in later period. These time-period effects appeared to be almost similar in men and women. The TC growth curves also varied by city of residence. Subjects in urban areas had higher TC values than subjects in rural areas. Changes associated with BMI from 1958 to 1986 were only partially responsible for the increased steepness of the TC growth curve.
An assessment of caloric intake as an indicator of physical activity
1989, Preventive Medicine
Caloric intake has been suggested as a surrogate measure of physical activity, provided that energy balance is maintained. In this study we assessed caloric intake in relation to other measures of physical activity in a free-living population by a single 24-hr recall in white adult males, ages 22–79 years, examined in 1957–1960 as part of the U.S. Railroad Study. Intake was positively related to leisure time and occupational activity. Men with higher levels of caloric intake had lower exercise test heart rates indicating that they were probably more fit. Caloric intake was also significantly and inversely related to body mass index, the sum of the triceps and subscapular skinfold thickness measurements, blood pressure, and total serum cholesterol. These results suggest that caloric intake, even as measured in a 24-hr dietary recall, is an indicator of physical activity level. Therefore, caloric intake may be a useful indicator of physical activity in some population-based epidemiologic studies.
Measure and assessment of physical activity by questionnaire
1988, Science and Sports
Cet article fait un tour d'horizon des questionnaires d'activité physique les plus utilisés dans la littérature anglo-saxonne. Parmi les nombreuses méthodes de mesure et d'évaluation de l'activité physique, le questionnaire est la plus pratique et la plus utilisée dans le cadre des études épidémiologiques portant sur de vastes échantillons de population. Aux fins de la présente étude, les questionnaires se subdivisent en quatre grandes catégories: le journal, le rappel d'activités physiques à court terme, les antécédents d'activités et le questionnaire d'ordre général. Chacun de ces questionnaires étant en quelque sorte spécialisé, le chercheur peut donc choisir celui qui, parmi un large éventail, sera le mieux adapté à la composante d'activité physique à évaluer (dépense énergétique, niveau global d'activité, activités durant les loisirs ou au travail, activités physiques intenses), ou au degré de précision recherché. Dans l'ensemble, plus les questionnaires sont précis, moins ils sont pratiques en terme de coût et de durée d'administration. Même si la validité et la fidélité de ces questionnaires sont relativement fiables, ces indices de précision sont parfois incomplets, inadéquats ou indéterminés. Malgré les lacunes des questionnaires, leur utilisation a permis d'établir plusieurs relations entre l'activité physique et certains problèmes de santé. L'amélioration de la précision des questionnaires et de leur validation pour divers groupes de subjets devrait permettre d'identifier des relations encore plus significatives entre l'activité physique et divers facteurs associés à la santé.
Physical activity habits appear to be inversely related, but not always obviously, to chronical disease (Leon et Blackburn, 1977; Vranic et Berger, 1979, Montoye, et al, 1976a, Montoye, et al, 1976b, Montoye, et al, 1976c. One part of the problem is due to the accuracy of the methods used to measure physical activities. Some reliable techniques such as heart rate monitors, accelerometers, and cinematographical techniques are too expensive, tedious and specific to be used with large sample of individuals in epidemiological studies (Laporte et al., 1985; Montoye et Taylor, 1984). In that respect, physical activity questionnaires appear to be the most practical and commonly used approach. This paper presents an up-date review of the questionnaires used in the anglo-saxon literature. Major differences between questionnaires are found in the principal characteristics that may influence the choice of a given questionnaire: details of recall, the administration mode (self-administrated or interview), the time frame covered, the administration time, the type of activities being assessed (leisure or occupational activity), the measurement scale (kcal rate, V˙O₂ max, activity indices), and the computation difficulty (Table 1).
Four categories of questionnaire are identified: diary (“journal”), recall (“rappel à court terme”), quantitative history survey (“rappel d'antécédents”) and general, questionnaire (“questionnaire d'ordre général”). The diary is a recording of activities in real time and is mostly used to assess energy expenditure (Edholm et al., 1955). The specificity of the activities being recorded and the tedious aspect of the individual calibration makes it difficult to use in epidemiological studies. Diary face off an intrinsic validity problem since subjects might modify their activity habits while recording them. Recall questionnaires are designed to collect data over the few preceeding days (1–7 days) using direct or phone interview or written questionnaire. They are popular but relatively difficult to administer because of the high intellectual demand put on the participant memory. Quantitative history surveys have time frame greater than one week and request detailled information on specific activities. These history surveys usually result in a large amount of data on various types of activities and also permit to follow trends in activity pattern over the year. The general surveys provide less details than other techniques. The participant merely provide a subjective impression of his usual activity or simply select his type of activity among several descriptive classes (Laporte et al., 1985).
Besides practical aspects, methodological considerations are also important. The questionnaires must be validated for the purpose it was designed for such as its relation to health parameters or chronic diseases (HDL, cholesterol, blood pressure, coronary disease, diabetes…), to nutritional state (caloric intake), to energy expenditure, or to fitness level (V˙O₂ max, PWC₁₇₀ …). In addition to its validity, the questionnaire must be reliable from one time or one administration to another, and must also be nonreactive, i.e., instrument must not alter the population behavior assessed (Laporte et al., 1985; Washburn et Montoye, 1986). Approximately 20 questionnaires are being analysed, commented and classified in this review. Questionnaires are being improved over the years and remain the typical tool in epidemiological studies.
Vigorous physical activity and cardiovascular risk factors in young adults
1986, Journal of Chronic Diseases
There are conflicting data regarding the effects of vigorous physical activity (PA) and cardiovascular disease risk factors. Representative samples of adults aged 20–35 from four northern California cities were studied both cross-sectionally and longitudinally in order to examine the relationships between vigorous PA and selected physiological risk factors. A self-report measure of habitual vigorous PA was validated by pulse rate. There were relationships, in both crosssectional and longitudinal analyses between self-reported vigorous PA and $HDL LDL$ ratio, especially for women. Relationships in cross-sectional analyses only were found between PA and diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and alveolar carbon monoxide. The results of the present study generally tend to confirm investigations of other samples.
High density lipoprotein cholesterol, habitual physical activity and physical fitness
1985, Atherosclerosis
The relationships between habitual physical activity and fitness parameters and fasting serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), and triglycerides (TG) were assessed in 357 men aged 30–59 years (mean 44, SD 5). A progressive submaximal power output test (PWC₁₅₀), a 1-min sit-up test, and a 3-day activity energy expenditure record were obtained for each subject. HDL-C, TG, and HDL-C/TC were significantly associated with the fitness indices (PWC₁₅₀ and sit-ups), but not with the mean daily energy expenditure computed from a 3-day activity record. However, when the subjects were stratified according to the maximal level of intensity reported in the work and leisure energy expenditure record, a relationship between maximal exercise or work intensity and the concentration of HDL-C and TG, and the ratio HDL-C/TC was found. When adjusted by multiple regression procedures for age, alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, socio-economic status, fatness level, and TC, or TG, or HDL-C, as appropriate, these relationships became nonsignificant, with the exception of TG and PWC₁₅₀. These results suggest that habitual physical activity of light intensities is not a major determinant of HDL-C, TC, and HDL-C/TC; it could, however, have a small but significant role in TG. In addition, data suggest that periods of exercise of higher intensity, i.e. with an energy cost of about 6 mets and more, could be a sensible mean to influence serum blood lipid levels.
Longitudinal changes in serum cholesterol in man: An epidemiologic search for an etiology
1982, Journal of Chronic Diseases
Serum cholesterol levels were determined in 1011 male participants of the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. This study presents the longitudinal changes in serum cholesterol from 1 July 1963 to 30 June 1977. Serum cholesterol values dropped 6% between 1970 and 1972. The span of this study was divided into two eras, one preceding and one following the drop. The effects of obesity, selected dietary constituents and physical activity were examined in an attempt to explain the secular change in serum cholesterol. Serum cholesterol levels were not significantly correlated to levels of weight or body mass index. Changes in weight were significantly positively correlated with changes in serum cholesterol. Overall, however, the study population did not experience a significant drop in weight and therefore, this relationship could not explain the observed drop in serum cholesterol. There were virtually no significant correlations between the absolute value of any of the dietary variables examined and the absolute level of serum cholesterol. There were significant but small changes in most dietary constituents; however, only changes in caloric intake were significantly positively correlated with changes in serum cholesterol. Because the overall change in caloric intake was small, it could explain less than 1 mg/dl of the 11 mg/dl drop. There was no overall change in physical activity. No significant correlations were found between either the level or change in physical activity and the level or change in serum cholesterol. It is concluded that neither weight nor physical activity could account for the observed changes in serum cholesterol. Changes in dietary constituents were significant and in a direction which would predict a lower serum cholesterol. However, for the group, dietary changes could not fully explain the drop in serum cholesterol. For individuals, the changes in diet poorly predicted changes in serum cholesterol. It is suggested that the observed secular drop in serum cholesterol may be due to factor(s) other than those studied.

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^☆: Supported in part by the Center for Research in Diseases of the Heart, Circulation and Related Disorder, University of Michigan under program Project Grant HE-09814 from the National Heart and Lung Institute, Research Grant HE-14712 of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Public Health Service, and Research Grant from the Tennessee Heart Association.

^†: Nutrition Program, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S.A.

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Habitual physical activity and serum lipids: Males, age 16–64 in a total community☆

Abstract

J Biol Chem

J Am Dietetic Assoc

Am J Clin Nut

Am J Cardiol

Physical Activity and Health: An Epidemiologic Study of An Entire Community

Aspects of the Tecumseh study

Publ Hlth Repts

An automated technique for the quantitative determination of serum total triglycerides

Am J Med Tech

Assessment of physical activity by questionnaire and interview

J Sports Med Phys Fitness

Relationship between serum cholesterol and body fatness: An epidemiologic study

Am J Clin Nutr

Exercise and blood cholesterol

Phys Fitness Res Digest

Summary of research on the relationship of exercise to heart disease

J Sports Med Phys Fitness

Physical activity in the prevention and therapy of cardiovascular disease

Studies on the diet, body fatness and serum cholesterol in Madrid, Spain

Metabolism

Epidemiological studies related to coronary heart disease: characteristics of men aged 40–59 in seven countries

Acta Med Scand

Effects of diet on blood lipids in man

Clin Chem

Physical activity and the diet in populations differing in serum cholesterol

J Clin Invest