Impact of physical activity during weekdays and weekends on fat mass among adults: 12-month cohort study

Author(s)

Alessandra Madia Mantovani ^[1] ; André Oliveira Werneck ^[2] ; Ricardo Ribeiro Agostinete ^[3] ; Manoel Carlos Spiguel Lima ^[4] ; Jamile Sanches Codogno ^[5] ; Bruna Camilo Turi-Lynch ^[6] ; Rômulo Araújo Fernandes ^[7]

Affiliation

^[1] Universidade Estadual Paulista. Postgraduate Program on Movement Sciences - Brasil

^[2] Universidade Estadual Paulista. Postgraduate Program on Movement Sciences - Brasil

^[3] Universidade Estadual Paulista. Postgraduate Program on Movement Sciences - Brasil

^[4] Universidade Estadual Paulista. Department of Physical Education. Laboratory of Investigation on Exercise - Brasil

^[5] Universidade Estadual Paulista. Postgraduate Program on Movement Sciences - Brasil

^[6] Lander University. Department of Physical Education and Exercise Science - Estados Unidos

^[7] Universidade Estadual Paulista. Postgraduate Program on Movement Sciences - Brasil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: São Paulo Medical Journal; v. 138, n. 3, p. 201-207, 2020-05-11.

Abstract

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Physical activity (PA) practices seem to differ between weekdays and weekends and these pattern changes can affect body fat differently. However, previous studies did not assess the mediation effect of weekday and weekend PA on maintenance of body fat using sophisticated statistical models. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the mediation effect of PA during weekdays and weekends on maintenance of fat mass over a 12-month follow-up. DESIGN AND SETTING: Longitudinal cohort study (12 months) conducted at a public university in Presidente Prudente, Brazil. METHODS: A sample of 225 adults (117 females) was used. Body fatness and fat mass were assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. PA levels were assessed using a pedometer. The statistical analysis consisted of paired-sample t tests, independent-sample t tests, Pearson correlations and mediation models. RESULTS: After 12 months, weekend PA had decreased while body composition indicators remained stable (without changes). The correlation between fat mass at baseline and follow-up was high for both sexes (men: 0.966; women: 0.941; P-value = 0.001 for both). Moreover, PA indices were inversely but moderately related to fat mass at baseline and follow-up. Lastly, weekend PA mediated the association between fat mass at baseline and follow-up (P-value < 0.05) by around 2% and 4%. CONCLUSION: Weekend PA mediated the association between fat mass at baseline and fat mass after one year of follow-up among these adults. Further studies are required to investigate the association between physical activity, body fat and other variables such as dietary patterns and sleep time. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/09182-5 - Impact of aquatic sport participation on markers of bone turnover among adolescents: ABCD - growth study
• Grantee: Ricardo Ribeiro Agostinete
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 17/27234-2 - Longitudinal association between biological maturation, body fatness and sports participation predicting the risk of metabolic syndrome and C-reactive protein: structural equation modelling (ABCD - growth study)
• Grantee: André de Oliveira Werneck
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 15/20460-1 - Effect of early sport practice on bone mass and health care expenditures in adulthood: a 12-month cohort
• Grantee: Rômulo Araújo Fernandes
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research
• FAPESP's process: 17/50026-7 - Impact of organized sports on health care costs of adolescents: ABCD Growth Study
• Grantee: Rômulo Araújo Fernandes
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants