THE RELATION BETWEEN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVEL AND OVERWEIGHT-OBESITY AMONG CHINESE PROFESSIONALS

Objective:To analyze the effect of physical activity level on overweight and obesity among Chinese profeseionals for developing intervention and prevention strategies for obesity. Method: Data source was fromChina National Nutrition and Health Survey in 2002 . Physical activity level (PAL) was classified to four groups (PAL 1.00-1.39:sedentary;1.40-1.59:low active;1.60-1.89:active; 1.90-2.50:very active). The influence of physical activity on obesity was observed after adjusting the relative effects of age, sex, region, family economic level, smoking, drinking and dietary fat. Results: The crude prevalence of overweight and obesity was 36.9%, 31.7%, 29.2% and 25.5% in sedentary, low active, active and very active groups respectively. After adjusting other risk factors, the higher PAL, the lower was the relative risk of overweight and obesity. Compared to the sedentary group, the relative risk of overweight and obesity decreased 22%, 19% and 29% in the low active, active and very active groups respectively. High economic level, drinking and dietary fat intakes were also independent risk factors of overweight and obesity. Conclusion: Physical activity level was an independent risk factor of overweight and obesity among professionals in China. The middle age males living in large cities with high income and drinking have higher risks of overweight and obesity.