Table 1 shown the result of the demographic characteristics. There were 10,802 data were dichotomized into groups regarding their Leisure Time Physical Activity (LTPA) status and most of participants (76%) were classified into the non-regular LTPA group. Except BMI, the significant differences were shown between groups (p < 0.05) on all relevant variables include age, gender, height, body weight, obese status, education, occupation and self-reported health status. Participants who were in non-regular LTPA group, the rates fo overweight (19.50%) and obese (15.00%) are higher than regular LTPA group and 18% participants said that their health status were very bad or poor which were higher than regular LTPA group (11.00%) too.
Table 1
Demographic characteristics
Variables
|
LTPA Status
|
p-value
|
|
Regular LTPA
(n = 2,592)
|
Non-regular LTPA
(n = 8,210)
|
|
Age (y)b
|
|
|
< 0.0001*
|
18–24
|
809 (31.20%)
|
1598 (19.50%)
|
|
25–29
|
480 (18.50%)
|
1412 (17.20%)
|
|
30–34
|
443 (17.10%)
|
1429 (17.40%)
|
|
35–39
|
403 (15.50%)
|
1880 (22.90%)
|
|
40–44
|
457 (17.60%)
|
1891 (23.00%)
|
|
Gender (% men)b
|
1,698 (65.5%)
|
4,001 (48.7%)
|
< 0.0001*
|
Height (cm)a
|
169.26 ± 8.68
|
165.75 ± 8.31
|
< 0.0001*
|
Body weight (kg)a
|
66.49 ± 13.26
|
63.80 ± 14.07
|
< 0.0001*
|
BMI (kg/m2)a
|
23.08 ± 3.55
|
23.07 ± 4.05
|
0.960
|
Obese Status (%)b
|
|
|
< 0.0001*
|
Underweight
|
184 (7.10%)
|
737 (9.00%)
|
|
Normal weight
|
1475 (56.90%)
|
4285 (52.20%)
|
|
Overweight
|
485 (18.70%)
|
1598 (19.50%)
|
|
Obese
|
353 (13.60%)
|
1230 (15.00%)
|
|
Education (%)b
|
|
|
< 0.0001*
|
Elementary school or lower
|
2 (0.10%)
|
30 (0.40%)
|
|
Junior or senior school
|
553 (21.40%)
|
2547 (31.10%)
|
|
College or higher
|
2035 (78.60%)
|
5608 (68.50%)
|
|
Occupation (%)b
|
|
|
< 0.0001*
|
White collar
|
588 (22.80%)
|
2033 (24.90%)
|
|
Government servant
|
228 (8.80%)
|
497 (6.10%)
|
|
Blue collar
|
380 (14.70%)
|
1970 (24.10%)
|
|
Owner/manager
|
139 (5.40%)
|
337 (4.10%)
|
|
Specialists
|
289 (11.20%)
|
812 (10.00%)
|
|
Student
|
616 (23.90%)
|
895 (11.00%)
|
|
Housewife
|
80 (3.10%)
|
641 (7.90%)
|
|
Retired
|
1 (0.00%)
|
13 (0.20%)
|
|
Free lancer
|
104 (4.00%)
|
248 (3.00%)
|
|
Jobless
|
119 (4.60%)
|
636 (7.80%)
|
|
Other
|
36 (1.40%)
|
78 (1.00%)
|
|
Self-reported health status (%)b
|
|
|
< 0.0001*
|
Excellent or good
|
2185 (85.00%)
|
6071 (75.50%)
|
|
Fair
|
103 (4.00%)
|
520 (6.50%)
|
|
Very bad or poor
|
282 (11.00%)
|
1449 (18.00%)
|
|
Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; LTPA, leisure time physical activity. |
*p < 0.05. |
aValues expressed as mean ± standard deviation. |
bValues expressed as n (percentage). |
The comparison between BMI and LTPA status among middle-aged and older adults were presented in Table 2. The BMI of the regular LTPA group were significant higher than non-regular LTPA group in age 18–24 (22.01 ± 3.02; 21.53 ± 3.15) and 40–44 (23.85 ± 2.97; 23.50 ± 3.40) group in pooled group (p < 0.05). However in difference gender, the significant difference between regular LTPA and non-regular LTPA were found only in women in age 18–24, 25–29 and 30–34 and regular LTPA had higher BMI in age 18–24 (21.32 ± 2.78; 20.75 ± 2.91) and 25–29 (21.59 ± 2.75; 20.97 ± 3.06).
Table 2
The comparison between BMI and LTPA status among young adults in Taiwan
Variables
|
LTPA Status
|
p-value
|
Regular LTPA
|
Non-regular LTPA
|
Men (n = 5,326)a
|
|
|
|
18–24
|
22.31 ± 3.08
|
22.30 ± 3.19
|
0.989
|
25–29
|
22.74 ± 2.56
|
22.91 ± 3.12
|
0.375
|
30–34
|
24.24 ± 3.00
|
24.38 ± 3.45
|
0.538
|
35–39
|
24.45 ± 3.05
|
24.35 ± 3.26
|
0.689
|
40–44
|
24.96 ± 2.59
|
24.86 ± 3.25
|
0.607
|
Women (n = 4,716)a
|
|
|
|
18–24
|
21.32 ± 2.78
|
20.75 ± 2.91
|
0.009*
|
25–29
|
21.59 ± 2.75
|
20.97 ± 3.06
|
0.022*
|
30–34
|
20.86 ± 2.21
|
22.00 ± 3.45
|
< 0.0001*
|
35–39
|
21.61 ± 3.14
|
21.83 ± 2.99
|
0.414
|
40–44
|
21.97 ± 2.61
|
22.38 ± 3.10
|
0.078
|
Pooled (n = 10,041)a
|
|
|
|
18–24
|
22.01 ± 3.02
|
21.53 ± 3.15
|
< 0.0001*
|
25–29
|
22.34 ± 2.68
|
22.04 ± 3.24
|
0.050
|
30–34
|
23.21 ± 3.19
|
23.12 ± 3.65
|
0.626
|
35–39
|
23.38 ± 3.38
|
23.03 ± 3.37
|
0.074
|
40–44
|
23.85 ± 2.97
|
23.50 ± 3.40
|
0.033
|
Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; LTPA, leisure time physical activity. |
*p < 0.05. |
aValues expressed as n (percentage). |
Table 3 compared the overweight and obesity prevalence between regular LTPA and non-regular LTPA among middle-age and older adults. The result indicated that the significant difference between regular LTPA and non-regular LTPA were found in age 18–24 and 25–29 in pooled group and the overweight (17.20%) and obesity (09.40%) prevalence of non-regular LTPA group were higher than regular LTPA (14.20%; 07.10%) in age 25–29. But in age 18–24, the obesity prevalence of regular LTPA (07.50%) were higher than non-regular LTPA group (06.40%). In addition, both men (12.00%; 08.80%) and women (06.20%; 03.80%) the obesity prevalence of non-regular LTPA group were significant higher than regular LTPA in age 25–29. On the contrary, the overweight prevalence of non-regular LTPA group were significant lower than regular LTPA in women (08.90%; 12.70%). The overweight (11.00%; 09.50%) and obesity (11.30%; 00.00%) prevalence of non-regular LTPA were significant higher than regular LTPA group in age 30–34 group in women, in men the significant difference were found in age 35–39 group too (overwight:31.30%; 29.10%, obesity:21.70%; 20.90%).
Table 3
The comparison between overweight/obesity prevalence and LTPA status among young adults in Taiwan
Variables
|
LTPA Status
|
p-value
|
Regular LTPA
|
Non-regular LTPA
|
Men (n = 5,326)a
|
|
|
|
18–24
|
Underweight
|
60(11.00%)
|
88(12.00%)
|
0.130
|
Normal weight
|
346(63.50%)
|
427(58.30%)
|
|
Overweight
|
87(16.00%)
|
152(20.80%)
|
|
Obesity
|
52(09.50%)
|
65(08.90%)
|
|
25–29
|
Underweight
|
13(04.40%)
|
51(07.10%)
|
< 0.0001*
|
Normal weight
|
211(71.80%)
|
411(56.90%)
|
|
Overweight
|
44(15.00%)
|
173(24.00%)
|
|
Obesity
|
26(08.80%)
|
87(12.00%)
|
|
30–34
|
Underweight
|
7(02.40%)
|
31(04.90%)
|
0.078
|
Normal weight
|
134(46.20%)
|
254(40.50%)
|
|
Overweight
|
74(25.50%)
|
193(30.80%)
|
|
Obesity
|
75(25.90%)
|
149(23.80%)
|
|
35–39
|
Underweight
|
0(00.00%)
|
32(03.90%)
|
0.011*
|
Normal weight
|
117(50.00%)
|
359(43.20%)
|
|
Overweight
|
68(29.10%)
|
260(31.30%)
|
|
Obesity
|
49(20.90%)
|
180(21.70%)
|
|
40–44
|
Underweight
|
2(00.80%)
|
13(01.60%)
|
0.126
|
Normal weight
|
88(35.10%)
|
281(35.50%)
|
|
Overweight
|
107(42.60%)
|
283(35.70%)
|
|
Obesity
|
54(21.50%)
|
215(27.10%)
|
|
Women (n = 4,716)a
|
|
|
|
18–24
|
Underweight
|
34(14.70%)
|
155(21.30%)
|
0.092
|
Normal weight
|
152(65.80%)
|
450(61.90%)
|
|
Overweight
|
38(16.50%)
|
93(12.80%)
|
|
Obesity
|
7(03.00%)
|
29(04.00%)
|
|
25–29
|
Underweight
|
19(12.00%)
|
121(20.30%)
|
0.034*
|
Normal weight
|
113(71.50%)
|
384(64.50%)
|
|
Overweight
|
20(12.70%)
|
53(08.90%)
|
|
Obesity
|
6(03.80%)
|
37(06.20%)
|
|
30–34
|
Underweight
|
17(13.50%)
|
76(10.80%)
|
0.001*
|
Normal weight
|
97(77.00%)
|
470(67.00%)
|
|
Overweight
|
12(09.50%)
|
77(11.00%)
|
|
Obesity
|
0(00.00%)
|
79(11.30%)
|
|
35–39
|
Underweight
|
21(14.90%)
|
95(10.40%)
|
0.135
|
Normal weight
|
97(68.80%)
|
632(69.10%)
|
|
Overweight
|
11(07.80%)
|
122(13.30%)
|
|
Obesity
|
12(08.50%)
|
65(07.10%)
|
|
40–44
|
Underweight
|
11(07.20%)
|
74(07.70%)
|
0.245
|
Normal weight
|
110(71.90%)
|
617(63.90%)
|
|
Overweight
|
23(15.00%)
|
191(19.80%)
|
|
Obesity
|
9(05.90%)
|
84(08.70%)
|
|
Pooled (n = 10,041)a
|
|
|
|
18–24
|
Underweight
|
94(12.10%)
|
243(16.70%)
|
0.025*
|
Normal weight
|
498(64.30%)
|
877(60.10%)
|
|
Overweight
|
125(16.10%)
|
246(16.90%)
|
|
Obesity
|
58(07.50%)
|
93(06.40%)
|
|
25–29
|
Underweight
|
32(07.10%)
|
172(13.10%)
|
< 0.0001*
|
Normal weight
|
324(71.70%)
|
795(60.40%)
|
|
Overweight
|
64(14.20%)
|
226(17.20%)
|
|
Obesity
|
32(07.10%)
|
124(09.40%)
|
|
30–34
|
Underweight
|
24(05.80%)
|
107(08.10%)
|
0.477
|
Normal weight
|
231(55.50%)
|
724(54.50%)
|
|
Overweight
|
85(20.40%)
|
269(20.30%)
|
|
Obesity
|
76(18.30%)
|
228(17.20%)
|
|
35–39
|
Underweight
|
21(05.60%)
|
126(07.20%)
|
0.507
|
Normal weight
|
214(57.10%)
|
992(56.80%)
|
|
Overweight
|
79(21.10%)
|
382(21.90%)
|
|
Obesity
|
61(16.30%)
|
245(14.00%)
|
|
40–44
|
Underweight
|
12(03.00%)
|
87(04.90%)
|
0.085
|
Normal weight
|
199(49.30%)
|
898(51.10%)
|
|
Overweight
|
130(32.20%)
|
474(27.00%)
|
|
Obesity
|
63(15.60%)
|
299(17.00%)
|
|
Abbreviations: LTPA, leisure time physical activity. |
*p < 0.05. |
aValues expressed as n (percentage). |
Table 4 indicated the result of the multivariate regression for regular LTPAs to BMI scores. There is positive relation between regular LTPA and BMI scores (β = 0.014, p < 0.05), the more regular LTPA adults do, the more BMI scores they get. However, adjusts for age, gender, self-reported health status, occupation, education the explanatory power decrease (β = 0.005). The result of the multivariate logistic regression for regular LTPAs to difference Obese status (obesity, overweight, underweight) were shown in Table 5. In model 2, when using non-regular LTPA as the baseline, participants in regular LTPA group exhibited the lower risks of overweight and underweight (OR, 0.837; 95% CI 0.738–0.948, OR, 0.732; 95% CI 0.611–0.876). But there was no significant relationship between the regular LTPA and obesity risk when using non-regular LTPA as the baseline in Model 2.
Table 4 Multivariate regression for regular LTPAs to BMI scores
Variables
|
Model 1 (unadjusted)
|
Model 2 (adjusteda)
|
β
|
SE
|
p-value
|
β
|
SE
|
p-value
|
Regular LTPA
|
0.014
|
0.078
|
0.172
|
0.005
|
0.074
|
0.588
|
Non-regular LTPA
|
Ref.
|
-
|
-
|
Ref.
|
-
|
-
|
Abbreviations: LTPA, leisure time physical activity; SE, standard error.
*p < 0.05.
aAdjusted for age, gender, self-reported health status, occupation, and education.
Table 5 Multivariate logistic regression for regular LTPAs to underweight, overweight, and obesity risks.
Variables
|
Model 1 (unadjusted)
|
Model 2 (adjusteda)
|
|
OR
|
95% CI
|
Pvalue
|
OR
|
95% CI
|
P-value
|
Underweight
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Regular LTPA
|
0.726
|
0.611-0.862
|
< 0.0001*
|
0.732
|
0.611-0.876
|
0.001*
|
Non-regular LTPA
|
Ref.
|
-
|
-
|
Ref.
|
-
|
-
|
Overweight
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Regular LTPA
|
0.881
|
0.783-0.991
|
0.035*
|
0.837
|
0.738-0.948
|
0.005*
|
Non-regular LTPA
|
Ref.
|
-
|
-
|
Ref.
|
-
|
-
|
Obesity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Regular LTPA
|
0.832
|
0.729-0.950
|
0.007*
|
0.880
|
0.759-1.020
|
0.090
|
Non-regular LTPA
|
Ref.
|
-
|
-
|
Ref.
|
-
|
-
|
Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; LTPA, leisure time physical activity; OR, odds ratio.
*p < 0.05.
aAdjusted for age, gender, self-reported health status, occupation, and education.