Abstract
Purpose: To investigate the relationship between habitual physical exercise and obesity indices or serum levels of lipids and carotenoids among the inhabitants.
Subjects and Methods: The study subjects without history of diseases, which were neoplasm, cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes and hypertension, recruited 571 healthy inhabitants (197 males and 374 females), aged above 40 years old. The subjects were divided into the following three groups according to the results inquired individual habitual physical exercise. Non-habitual exercise group (N-group) defined for inhabitants without habitual physical exercise, moderate habitual exercise group (M-group) for inhabitants with less than 98.8 Mets·min./day, and high habitual exercise group (H-group) for inhabitants with more than 98.8 Mets·min./day. Mets·min./day expressed physical activity scores. Obesity indices were estimated by the values of BMI, %Fat and waist/hip ratio (WHR) . Serum levels of carotenoids were measured by HPLC method. Frequency of food intakes obtained from the questionnaire.
Results: In males, obesity indices, BMI, %Fat and WHR, were significantly higher for H-group than for other groups. In females, there was a significantly inverse relation between habitual exercise and WHR after adjusting for age, habits of smoking and alcohol drinking, and serum TC levels. However, there was no significant relationship between habitual exercise and serum lipid levels in both sexes. It was obtained that serum levels of zeaxanthin & lutein and total carotenoids, such as β-carotene and provitamin A, were higher for male H-group and females Mgroup, respectively. In addition, intake frequencies of carrot & pumpkin, tomato, and other fruits were higher for inhabitants with habitual physical exercise in both sexes.
Conclusion: Habitual physical exercise must occur to reduce the obesity indices and to induce the good lifestyle such as high intake of vegetables and fruits. These habits might due to high serum levels of carotenoids among the inhabitants with habitual physical exercise.
