The IMAGINE Intervention: Impacting Physical Activity, Body Fat, Body Mass Index, and Dietary Inflammatory Index.

Background: Many behavior-change interventions focused on nutrition and physical activity (PA) have been implemented to prevent disease and promote optimal health. Purpose: This study examined changes in PA with Energy-adjusted Dietary Inflammatory Index (E-DII™) and chronic disease risk factors in participants of a multicomponent intervention.
Methods: Data from the Inflammation Management Intervention (IMAGINE) were used. Participants self-selected into the intervention or control group. At baseline and 12 weeks (post-intervention), participants completed three unannounced 24-hour dietary recalls (24HR), anthropometric measures (height, weight), and a dual x-ray absorptiometry scan. PA was measured using Sensewear® armbands. E-DII scores were calculated from the 24HR. Descriptive statistics and t-tests summarized variables and multiple regression assessed relationships between PA and body mass index (BMI), total body fat percent, and E-DII scores.
Results: Intervention participants increased moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and lowered BMI, total body fat, and E-DII scores compared to controls. Every 10-minute increase in post-intervention MVPA was associated with 1.6 kg/m2 lower BMI (p<0.01) and 2.4% lower body fat percent (p<0.01) among control participants, after adjusting for covariates. Every 10-minute increase in post-intervention MVPA was associated with 0.3 lower (i.e., less inflammatory) post-intervention E-DII (p=0.01) scores among intervention participants, after adjusting for covariates.
Conclusion: Participants who changed dietary intake changed PA. While changes were in expected directions, this intervention's emphasis on dietary behaviors compared to PA may have attenuated the relationship between PA and study outcomes.