Estimated physical activity in Bavaria, Germany, and its implications for obesity risk: Results from the BVS-II Study

BACKGROUND: Adequate physical activity (PA) is considered as a key factor in the fight against the obesity epidemic. Therefore, detailed description of the actual PA and its components in the population is necessary. Additionally, this study aims to investigate the association between PA and obesity risk in a representative population sample in Bavaria, Germany. METHODS: Data from 893 participants (age 13–80 years) of the Bavarian Food Consumption Survey II (BVS II) were used. In each participant, three computer-based 24-hour recalls were conducted by telephone assessing type and duration of PA in the domains occupation, sports, other strenuous leisure time activities (of mostly moderate intensity) as well as TV/PC use in leisure time and duration of sleeping. After assigning metabolic equivalents (METs) to each activity, estimates of energy expenditure (MET*h) and total daily PA level (PAL(est.)) were calculated. In a subgroup of adults (n = 568) with anthropometric measurements logistic regression models were used to quantify the impact of PA on obesity risk. RESULTS: Estimated average PA in women and men was 38.5 ± 5.0 and 40.6 ± 9.3 MET*h/d, respectively, corresponding to PAL(est. )values of 1.66 ± 0.22 and 1.75 ± 0.40. Obese subjects showed lower energy expenditure in the categories sports, occupation, and sleeping, while the time spent with TV/PC during leisure time was highest. This is confirmed in logistic regression analyses revealing a statistically significant association between obesity and TV/PC use during leisure time, while sports activity was inversely related to obesity risk. Overall, less than 1/3 of the study participants reached the recommended PAL of ≥ 1.75. Subjects within the recommended range of PA had an about 60 % (odds ratio = 0.43; 95% CI: 0.21–0.85) reduced risk of obesity as compared to inactive subjects with a PAL(est. )<1.5. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of short-term PA patterns, a major part of the Bavarian adult population does not reach the recommendations (PAL>1.75; moderate PA of > 30 min/d). Despite the limitations of the study design, the existing associations between sports activity, TV/PC use and obesity risk in this population give further support to the recommendation of increasing sports activity and reducing sedentary behaviour in order to prevent rising rates of obesity

Leptin plasma levels in the general population: influence of age, gender, body weight and medical history

The polypeptide leptin exerts a multitude of regulatory functions. It has been implicated in the pathophysiology of inflammatory, metabolic and psychiatric disorders and has been found to be differentially expressed in men and women. Although a clear increase of leptin levels with age has been repeatedly observed in men, the association of leptin levels and age in women is an issue of scientific discussion. To investigate the association of age, gender, body mass index (BMI) and selected diseases with plasma levels of leptin in 551 adults randomly chosen from the Bavarian population, we assessed subjects&#39; characteristics, lifestyle, and medical history including life time history of frequent diseases and performed blood sampling and standardized anthropometric measurements. Leptin plasma levels were measured using a Radioimmunoassay. Leptin levels were significantly higher in women as compared to men and this difference persisted even after controlling for differences in age or BMI. Leptin levels increased across the age groups in both men and women. Controlling for differences in BMI substantially attenuated the influence of age on leptin levels. In women, age was no longer significantly associated with leptin levels after controlling for BMI. With regard to medical history, hyperuricemia and gout were significantly associated with higher leptin levels, even after controlling for BMI, whereas subjects with high blood pressure or dyslipoproteinemia showed higher leptin levels only if the BMI was not considered as control variable. The BMI and its influence on the interrelations of gender, age and leptin should be considered when interpreting leptin levels

Estimating usual intake in the 2nd Bavarian food consumption survey: comparison of the results derived by the national cancer institute method and a basic individual means approach

BACKGROUND: The valid estimation of the usual dietary intake remains a challenge till date. We applied the method suggested by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to data from the 2nd Bavarian Food Consumption Survey (BVS II) and compared it to an individual means approach. METHODS: Within the cross-sectional BVS II, 1,050 Bavarian residents aged 13-80 years participated in a personal interview and completed three 24-h dietary recalls by telephone interview. For the 13 main food groups and 23 subgroups the usual intake was calculated by (1) an individual means approach and (2) by the NCI method. RESULTS: The distributions derived by the individual means approach are wider than those derived from the NCI approach. For a majority of food groups and subgroups, the proportion of participants who meet the dietary recommendations published by the German Nutrition Society is higher when the NCI approach is applied. The proportions of participants above or below recommended amounts differ greatly for &quot;meat and meat products&quot; and &quot;cheese.&quot; CONCLUSION: The mean intake at the groups level can easily be derived from the individual means approach. Since only the NCI method accounts for intra-personal variation, this method provides more valid intake estimates at the individual level and should be applied when, for example, individual intakes are compared with dietary recommendations