Changes in physical activity and weight gain over five years according to socio-economic status in young South African adults
1
Centre of Excellence for Nutrition, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
2
South African Medical Research Council Extramural Unit for Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
3
Hypertension Research and Training Clinic and Laboratory, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The global pandemic of obesity and physical inactivity is concerning, but the prevalence may differ across socio-economic status (SES) groups. The objective of this study was to investigate changes in physical activity and weight gain over five years according to SES in South African adults, aged 20-30y at baseline1.
METHODS:
From 2013-2017, 1202 healthy young adults were recruited from Potchefstroom, South Africa to track changes in cardiovascular risk. Height, weight, waist circumference, body mass index (BMI) and percentage body fat (%BF) using bioelectric impedance analysis were recorded. Physical activity (PA) was assessed using the Global Physical Activity questionnaire and SES using the Kuppuswamy Scale. All measurements were repeated after five years. Changes in PA, BMI and %BF from baseline to end were assessed using the Wilcoxon test for paired data. The association between PA, age, and SES score with 5-year follow-up BMI and %BF was determined in regression models, according to SES.
RESULTS:
A total of 730 participants were assessed at follow-up. Median BMI and %BF increased significantly among men and women. PA of men was significantly higher than that of women. Despite a negative correlation between %BF and PA (r = -0.16, p<0.001) in the total group at baseline, only age (positive association) and SES score (negative association) were associated with endline BMI and %BF among women. No associations were found among men. Sedentary time increased in men from the lowest SES categories but decreased among men from the highest SES group. Sedentary time remained unchanged among women across SES groups. Walking/cycling time decreased among the lower socio-economic status groups of men and women.
CONCLUSIONS:
Men and women gained weight during young adulthood over five years. PA was not associated with increased adiposity in adjusted models. The impact of SES on adiposity gains among women requires further investigation.
The global pandemic of obesity and physical inactivity is concerning, but the prevalence may differ across socio-economic status (SES) groups. The objective of this study was to investigate changes in physical activity and weight gain over five years according to SES in South African adults, aged 20-30y at baseline1.
METHODS:
From 2013-2017, 1202 healthy young adults were recruited from Potchefstroom, South Africa to track changes in cardiovascular risk. Height, weight, waist circumference, body mass index (BMI) and percentage body fat (%BF) using bioelectric impedance analysis were recorded. Physical activity (PA) was assessed using the Global Physical Activity questionnaire and SES using the Kuppuswamy Scale. All measurements were repeated after five years. Changes in PA, BMI and %BF from baseline to end were assessed using the Wilcoxon test for paired data. The association between PA, age, and SES score with 5-year follow-up BMI and %BF was determined in regression models, according to SES.
RESULTS:
A total of 730 participants were assessed at follow-up. Median BMI and %BF increased significantly among men and women. PA of men was significantly higher than that of women. Despite a negative correlation between %BF and PA (r = -0.16, p<0.001) in the total group at baseline, only age (positive association) and SES score (negative association) were associated with endline BMI and %BF among women. No associations were found among men. Sedentary time increased in men from the lowest SES categories but decreased among men from the highest SES group. Sedentary time remained unchanged among women across SES groups. Walking/cycling time decreased among the lower socio-economic status groups of men and women.
CONCLUSIONS:
Men and women gained weight during young adulthood over five years. PA was not associated with increased adiposity in adjusted models. The impact of SES on adiposity gains among women requires further investigation.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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