Objectives: Abdominal fat accumulation is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Identifying the demographic and lifestyle correlates of abdominal adiposity is an important step to target at-risk populations in prevention programs. There are few data of this kind in France.
Methods: Anthropometric indicators of overall (body mass index, BMI) and abdominal (waist hip ratio, WHR; waist circumference, WC) adiposity, educational level, smoking status, and physical activity were assessed in 6,705 middle-aged men and women participating in the SU.VI.MAX study.
Results: The likelihood of being obese was increased more than twice in physically inactive subjects of both genders after adjustment for age, smoking status and educational level (OR=2.22, CI95%: 1.74-2.83 in men; OR=2.38, CI95%: 1.84-3.09 in women). Having a high WHR (>=0.95 in men, >=0.80 in women) was more likely in subjects >=50 y, in current smokers, and less likely in men with higher education. The likelihood of having a high WHR was also increased in physically inactive subjects of both genders after adjustment for age, BMI, smoking status and educational level (OR=1.33, CI95%: 1.10-1.60 in men; OR=1.46, CI95%: 1.22-1.74 in women). Having a high WC (>=102 cm in men, >=88 cm in women) was positively associated with age and also with physical inactivity (OR=1.63, CI95%: 1.20-2.22 in women).
Conclusions: These cross-sectional data suggest significant positive associations of physical inactivity with both the WHR and WC, independently of overall adiposity as assessed by the BMI.