Yujie Liu, Yuandan Tan, Ami Koga, Jinxia Lin, Jingmin Liu, Zhengxin Li
Higher MVPA was associated with lower odds of obesity. Inverse associations were also observed for low muscle mass, although this finding warrants cautious interpretation.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the associations of guideline-based moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) levels with obesity and low muscle mass in postmenopausal Chinese women.
METHODS: Cross-sectional data from 1578 postmenopausal women aged ≥45 years in Jiangsu, China were analyzed. Obesity was defined as body fat percentage ≥30% according to Chinese criteria, and low muscle mass as appendicular skeletal muscle index <5.7 kg/m2 according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 criteria. Both were assessed using bioelectrical impedance. Physical activity was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form. MVPA was calculated and categorized according to World Health Organization (WHO) physical activity recommendations (<150, 150-299, and ≥300 min/week). Multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine associations between MVPA levels and study outcomes.
RESULTS: 27.7% (n=437) of women had obesity and 7.5% (n=118) had low muscle mass. Compared with women reporting <150 min/week of MVPA, those reporting 150-299 min/week and ≥300 min/week had lower odds of obesity. In fully adjusted models, the odds ratios were 0.55 (95% CI: 0.35-0.86) and 0.42 (95% CI: 0.29-0.61), respectively. The corresponding odds ratios for low muscle mass were 0.21 (95% CI: 0.07-0.68) and 0.30 (95% CI: 0.14-0.66).
CONCLUSION: Higher MVPA was associated with lower odds of obesity. Inverse associations were also observed for low muscle mass, although this finding warrants cautious interpretation.