Association between leisure-time physical activities and obesity in a selected sample of korean adults

The aim of this study was to determine whether leisure-time physical activities (PAs) affect obesity in Korean adults. The participants included505 men and 1,061 women (>20 years) who visited a public health centre in Seoul during 2010-2011.They completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and their Body Mass Index was calculated. Obesity was defined according to the current World Health Organization criteria. The association was assessed using multivariate logistic regression analysis after adjustment for sex, age, smoking/drinking, sleep duration, mental stress, education and economic status. Odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for the association between obesity and vigorous, moderate, and light PA compared to those who do not participate in any PA were: 0.931 (p=0.691), 0.893 (p=0.531)and 0.815 (p=0.302) for once/week, respectively; 0.940 (p=0.789), 0.690 (p=0.129), and 0.787 (p=0.342) for twice/week, respectively; 1.031 (p=0.897), 1.375 (p=0.137)and 1.180 (p=0.473) for three times/week, respectively; 1.109 (p=0.759), 0.804 (p=0.491), and 0.907 (p=0.763) for four times/week, respectively; and 0.357 (p=0.006), 0.509 (p=0.034), and 0.641 (p=0.038) for >five times/week, respectively. Vigorous, moderate, and light PA >five times/week may reduce or prevent obesity in Korean adults. Key words: Physical activity; Prevalence of obesity; Body Mass Index; Korea.