Adherence to aerobic and muscle-strengthening physical activity guidelines and development of chronic diseases: Findings from the HABITAT cohort.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the combined associations between meeting aerobic and muscle-strengthening activity guidelines and incidence of chronic diseases in mid-age Australian adults over nine years.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

METHODS

Data were from the How Areas in Brisbane Influence Health and AcTivity cohort (N = 8072; aged 40-64 years in 2007). Participants completed surveys in 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, and 2016. Aerobic physical activity was measured in weighted weekly time in walking, moderate and vigorous intensity activity. Muscle-strengthening activity was measured as frequency of doing weights (2007-2011) and exercises to increase strength (2011-2013). Logistic generalized estimating equation models with a 2-year lag were used to assess the associations of meeting activity guidelines with incidence of cancer, heart disease, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

RESULTS

At baseline (2007), 11.8% of participants met both guidelines. Across time, fewer participants met muscle-strengthening than aerobic guidelines. Compared with those who met neither guideline, during 2007-2011, meeting both guidelines was associated with lower odds of heart disease (odds ratio: 0.63; 95% confidence interval: 0.42, 0.93) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (0.51; 0.29, 0.88). During the 2011-2013 period, meeting both guidelines was associated with lower odds of cancer (0.77; 0.59, 1.00), hypertension (0.76; 0.60, 0.98) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (0.50; 0.28, 0.89).

CONCLUSIONS

Meeting both physical activity guidelines was associated with lower odds of hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Public health initiatives should promote guidelines for both activity types, especially muscle-strengthening activities, which were typically low in these mid-age Australian adults.