Obesity in Young Adulthood: The Role of Physical Activity Level, Musculoskeletal Pain, and Psychological Distress in Adolescence (The HUNT-Study)

Maren Hjelle Guddal, Synne Øien Stensland, Milada Cvancarova Småstuen, Marianne Bakke Johnsen, Ingrid Heuch, John-Anker Zwart and Kjersti Storheim
Additional contact information
Maren Hjelle Guddal: Research and Communication Unit for Musculoskeletal Health (FORMI), Oslo University Hospital, P.O. Box 4956 Nydalen, 0424 Oslo, Norway
Synne Øien Stensland: Research and Communication Unit for Musculoskeletal Health (FORMI), Oslo University Hospital, P.O. Box 4956 Nydalen, 0424 Oslo, Norway
Milada Cvancarova Småstuen: Faculty of Health Sciences, Oslo Metropolitan University, P.O. Box 4, St. Olavs plass, 0130 Oslo, Norway
Marianne Bakke Johnsen: Research and Communication Unit for Musculoskeletal Health (FORMI), Oslo University Hospital, P.O. Box 4956 Nydalen, 0424 Oslo, Norway
Ingrid Heuch: Department of Research, Innovation and Education, Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Ullevål, P.O. Box 4956 Nydalen, 0424 Oslo, Norway
John-Anker Zwart: Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1078 Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway
Kjersti Storheim: Research and Communication Unit for Musculoskeletal Health (FORMI), Oslo University Hospital, P.O. Box 4956 Nydalen, 0424 Oslo, Norway

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 12, 1-14

Abstract: The global obesity epidemic raises long-term health concerns which underline the importance of preventive efforts. We aimed to investigate individual and combined effects of common health problems in adolescence on the probability of obesity in young adulthood. This prospective population-based study included data from participants in the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study in Norway (Young-HUNT1 (1995–1997), age 13–19, baseline) who participated in HUNT3 as young adults 11 years later (age 23–31). Exposure variables at baseline included self-reported physical activity, musculoskeletal pain, and psychological distress. We examined associations between exposure variables and the main outcome of obesity in young adulthood (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m 2 ) using univariate and multiple logistic regression, stratified by sex. Probabilities of obesity for given combinations of the exposure variables were visualized in risk matrixes. The study sample consisted of 1859 participants (43.6% boys). Higher probabilities of obesity in young adulthood were found across combinations of lower physical activity levels and presence of musculoskeletal pain in adolescence. Additional adverse effects of psychological distress were low. Proactive intervention strategies to promote physical activity and facilitate sports participation for all adolescents, whilst addressing musculoskeletal pain and its potential individual causes, could prove helpful to prevent development of obesity in young adulthood.

Keywords: obesity; prevention; adolescence; young adulthood; physical activity; musculoskeletal pain (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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