title: The impact of overweight/obesity duration and physical activity on telomere length: An application of the WATCH paradigm.
abstract: Physical activity may protect against health consequences associated with obesity, yet less is known on how the duration of obesity alters this association, specifically as it relates to leukocyte telomere length.
  
  
  
  The 1999-2002 NHANES was used to place individuals into 6 mutually exclusive groups based on physical activity status and weight status/duration.
  
  
  
  All active individuals, except for those overweight/obese for longer durations, were associated with longer telomeres in comparison to sedentary individuals.
  
  
  
  Physical activity may attenuate the decline in telomere length associated with obesity, but this protective effect may be negated by prolonged periods of overweight/obesity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management, Kevser Ermin Applied Physiology Laboratory, The University of Mississippi, MS, United States.
authors.forename: Scott J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Dankel
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management, Kevser Ermin Applied Physiology Laboratory, The University of Mississippi, MS, United States.
authors.forename: Jeremy P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Loenneke
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Exercise Science and Recreation Management, Physical Activity Epidemiology Laboratory, The University of Mississippi, 229 Turner Center, MS 38677, United States. Electronic address: pdloprin@olemiss.edu.
authors.forename: Paul D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Loprinzi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000235:genetics*; D016615:Telomere
keywords: Chronic disease; Endurance training; Exercise; Leukocytes; Weight status