Paul T Williams1. 1. Life Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Donner Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA. ptwilliams@lbl.gov
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Genetic factors account for 40%-70% of the variation in body mass index (BMI). We sought to test whether moderate intensity physical activity affected parent-offspring relationships for body mass index and regional adiposity in 26,587 female and 6428 male walkers surveyed in the United States in 2000. METHODS: Survey questionnaires provided self-reported usual walking distance, height, weight, and waist circumference, and mother's and father's adiposity (1=lean, 2=normal, 3=overweight, and 4=very overweight). Regression analyses were used to test whether the contribution of parental adiposities to the walkers' body mass indexes and waist circumferences diminished with walking. RESULTS: In the most sedentary group (walking < 1.5 km/d), average parental adiposity was a significant determinant of the walkers' body mass indexes and waist circumferences (female: P < 10(-15); male: P < 10(-13)). Greater walking distance significantly diminished the effect of average parents' adiposity on the walkers' body mass indexes (female: P < 10(-10); male P = 0.003) and waist circumferences (female: P < 10(-6); male P = 0.01). Compared to the most sedentary female walkers, the effect of parental adiposity was reduced 36% for body mass indexes and 41% for waist circumferences (corresponding reductions in men were 36% and 46%, respectively). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that moderate intensity physical activity attenuates inheritance of both total and regional adiposity in a dose-dependent manner.
OBJECTIVE: Genetic factors account for 40%-70% of the variation in body mass index (BMI). We sought to test whether moderate intensity physical activity affected parent-offspring relationships for body mass index and regional adiposity in 26,587 female and 6428 male walkers surveyed in the United States in 2000. METHODS: Survey questionnaires provided self-reported usual walking distance, height, weight, and waist circumference, and mother's and father's adiposity (1=lean, 2=normal, 3=overweight, and 4=very overweight). Regression analyses were used to test whether the contribution of parental adiposities to the walkers' body mass indexes and waist circumferences diminished with walking. RESULTS: In the most sedentary group (walking < 1.5 km/d), average parental adiposity was a significant determinant of the walkers' body mass indexes and waist circumferences (female: P < 10(-15); male: P < 10(-13)). Greater walking distance significantly diminished the effect of average parents' adiposity on the walkers' body mass indexes (female: P < 10(-10); male P = 0.003) and waist circumferences (female: P < 10(-6); male P = 0.01). Compared to the most sedentary female walkers, the effect of parental adiposity was reduced 36% for body mass indexes and 41% for waist circumferences (corresponding reductions in men were 36% and 46%, respectively). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that moderate intensity physical activity attenuates inheritance of both total and regional adiposity in a dose-dependent manner.
Authors: Evadnie Rampersaud; Braxton D Mitchell; Toni I Pollin; Mao Fu; Haiqing Shen; Jeffery R O'Connell; Julie L Ducharme; Scott Hines; Paul Sack; Rosalie Naglieri; Alan R Shuldiner; Soren Snitker Journal: Arch Intern Med Date: 2008-09-08