Evaluation of the Role of Leisure Time Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Simultaneously on the Income-Overweight/Obesity Relationship

Layton Reesor-Oyer, Rosenda Murillo, Emily C. LaVoy, Daniel P. O’Connor, Yu Liu and Daphne C. Hernandez
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Layton Reesor-Oyer: Department of Exercise Science, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
Rosenda Murillo: Department of Psychological, Health, and Learning Sciences, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77004, USA
Emily C. LaVoy: Department of Health and Human Performance, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77004, USA
Daniel P. O’Connor: Health Research Institute, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77004, USA
Yu Liu: Department of Psychological, Health, and Learning Sciences, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77004, USA
Daphne C. Hernandez: Department of Research, Jane and Robert Cizik School of Nursing, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 6, 1-10

Abstract: In the United States, overweight/obesity is more prevalent among those with low-income; higher income is related to greater leisure time physical activity (LTPA) and sedentary behavior (SB), which are inversely related to overweight/obesity. This study aimed to evaluate the role of LTPA and SB simultaneously in the income-overweight/obesity relationship. Cross-sectional data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007–2014) were utilized ( n = 10,348 non-older adults (aged 20–59 years)). A multiple mediator structural equation model was conducted to evaluate the indirect effects from income to overweight/obesity (Body Mass Index ≥25 kg/m 2 ) through LTPA and SB simultaneously, controlling for confounding variables, including diet, smoking, and alcohol consumption. As expected, greater income was negatively associated with overweight/obesity. Income indirectly influenced overweight/obesity through LTPA (Indirect effect: B = −0.005; CI = −0.01, −0.003), and through SB (Indirect effect: B = 0.008; CI = 0.005, 0.01), in opposing directions. The direct effect from income to overweight/obesity remained statistically significant. LTPA partially accounted for the negative relationship between income and overweight/obesity; SB reduced the strength of the negative relationship between income and overweight/obesity. Targeted behavior approaches for weight management may be beneficial. Increasing LTPA among adults with lower income and decreasing SB among adults with higher income may provide some overweight/obesity protection.

Keywords: body mass index; federal poverty level; National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey; elevated weight status; exercise; health disparities (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:6:p:3127-:d:519504

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