title: Association of physical activity, waist circumference and body mass index with subjective health among Belgian adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present study aimed to explore associations of physical activity (PA), waist circumference (WC) and body mass index (BMI) with subjective health in a nationally representative sample of Belgian adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from the 2004 Belgian Food Consumption Survey were used. A face-to-face questionnaire about sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics, general health, subjective health, lifestyle and PA was completed. Weight and height were self-reported, and WC was measured in orthostatic position. PA was assessed by the short International PA Questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 3208 individuals (49.9% women) were included in the study. About 41.3% of the Belgian population did not meet the minimum recommendations for PA, whereas 24.8% of the population engaged in health-enhancing PA. In total, 29.5% of the population was overweight, 10.1% was obese and 33.2% of the population had an excessive WC. About 23.6% of the population rated their health as poor. Obese individuals were significantly less likely to report good subjective health than those with normal BMI [odds ratio (OR) = 0.538; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.390-0.742]. This association was also identified for men and women separately. Further, both individuals who participated in health-enhancing PA and those who participated in recommended PA reported significantly better subjective health than insufficiently active individuals (OR = 2.533; 95% CI: 1.952-3.287 and OR = 1.543; 95% CI: 1.256-1.894, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A strong association was found between PA and subjective health, and in addition, a significant negative association was found between BMI and subjective health. There was no relationship between WC and subjective health among Belgian adolescents and adults.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Public Health and Surveillance, Scientific Institute of Public Health, J.Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Melinda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asztalos
authors.forename: Inge
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Huybrechts
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Temme
authors.forename: Herman
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Van Oyen
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vandevijvere
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D057566:Self Report; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055105:Waist Circumference