A five-year study by Finnish researchers has found that levels of physical activity and sedentary behavior do not always determine a person's weight, according to infohub.kz.
The work by scientists at the University of Helsinki, published in the journal Scientific Reports, calls into question the widespread belief that high levels of leisure-time physical activity protect against significant weight gain. The five-year study involved 2,606 municipal employees in Finland who were young or in early middle age. The researchers assessed their daily activity levels, the amount of time spent sitting, and changes in body weight.
During the observation period, significant weight gain — more than 5% of initial body weight — was recorded in 28% of women and 22% of men. However, the scientists found no clear, direct link between levels of leisure-time physical activity, time spent sitting, and the risk of substantial weight gain.
The authors stress that the results do not diminish the overall benefits of physical activity for cardiovascular and metabolic health. Nevertheless, they show that leisure-time activity levels and sedentary behavior are not, in themselves, exhaustive factors determining weight dynamics. Weight gain is influenced by more complex mechanisms, including overall diet, stress levels, the calorie content of food, and individual metabolic characteristics. The scientists call for a comprehensive approach when developing obesity prevention programs.