Association between a healthy lifestyle and general obesity and abdominal obesity in an elderly population at high cardiovascular risk

BackgroundDiet, smoking and physical activity are important modifiable lifestyle factors that can influence body weight and fat accumulation. We assessed the relationship between lifestyle and obesity risk in a baseline analysis of the PREDIMED study, a randomized dietary primary prevention trial conducted in Spain.Methods7000 subjects at high cardiovascular risk were assessed cross-sectionally. A healthy lifestyle pattern (HLP) was determined using a score including: adherence to the Mediterranean diet, moderate alcohol consumption, expending ≥ 200 kcal/day in leisure-time physical activity, and non-smoking.ResultsInverse linear trends were observed between the HLP-score and body-mass-index (BMI) or waist circumference (p < 0.001). The BMI and waist circumference of participants with a HLP-score = 4 were, respectively, 1.3 kg/m2 (95% CI: 0.9 to 1.7) and 4.3 cm (3.1 to 5.4) lower than those of subjects with an HLP ≤ 1. The odds ratios of general obesity and abdominal obesity for an HLP score of 4 compared to an HPL score ≤ 1 were 0.50 (0.42 to 0.60) and 0.51 (0.41 to 0.62), respectivelyConclusionA combination of four healthy lifestyle behaviors was associated with a lower prevalence of general obesity and abdominal obesity in Mediterranean elderly subjects at high cardiovascular risk.

Research highlights
► To explore the relationship between a healthy lifestyle and the risk of obesity.
► To explore the relationship between lifestyle and the risk of abdominal obesity.
► We report an inverse linear trend between healthy lifestyle factors and obesity.
► We report an inverse linear trend between lifestyle factors and abdominal obesity.