Ambulatory activity and body mass index in white and non-white older adults.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which physical activity (PA) is related to obesity in older adults when accounting for race/ethnicity.


METHODS
Cross-sectional data were collected on 214 older adults (72.3 +/- 8.9 y; body mass index [BMI] 28.9 +/- 6.0; 151 females; 96 non-White). Measures of body height and mass were collected; BMI was calculated. PA was assessed via an electronic pedometer worn for seven consecutive days.


RESULTS
"White" subjects accumulated 5036 +/- 286 steps/d. "Non-White" subjects accumulated significantly fewer steps/d (3671 +/- 253 steps/d; z = -3.45, P = 0.001). Race/ethnicity, income, age, gender, and steps/d accounted for 27.4% (P < 0.001) of the variance in BMI, with steps/d accounting for 21.2% (P < 0.001). The most influential factor in this model was PA level (beta = -0.510), followed by age (beta = -0.220), and finally gender being the least influential, but still a significant factor (beta = 0.168).


CONCLUSIONS
Although race/ethnicity and income have been associated with obesity levels, this study shows that older adults who accumulate more ambulatory activity tend to have healthier levels of BMI irrespective of race/ethnicity or income.
Swartz
Ann
A
Department of Human Movement Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA.
Strath
Scott
S
Parker
Sarah
S
Miller
Nora
N
Cieslik
Linda
L
D001741:Black or African American; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000886:Anthropometry; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000295:instrumentation*; D009043:Motor Activity; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control; D050177:Overweight; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016138:Walking; D044465:White People; D014922:Wisconsin / Q000453:epidemiology