Physically inactive as a risk factor for obesity and reduced physical function in young adults

Abstract Physical inactivity is associated with increased rates of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Some of the factors that indicate a person has risk for future NCDs are obesity and reduced measures of physical performance, such as appendicular muscle mass (ASM), hand grip strength (HGS), and gait speed (GS). Objectives: Study to analyze the risk of physical inactivity for obesity and physical performance in young adults. Method: The cross-sectional study included 419 young adults consisting of 206 (49.2%) men and 213 (50.8%) women. Physical activity (PA) values were determined using the International PA Questionnaire (IPAQ), with an inactive score <600 METs and an obesity standard ≥ 25 kg/m 2 . The values of lower ASM, HGS, and GS were based on the 2019 AWGS criteria. Results: Physical inactivity rates were 327 (78%), 154 (47%) in men and 173 (53%) in women (p=0.125). Obesity rates were 162 (39%); however, in men, they were slightly higher than in women: 101 (62.3%) vs 61 (37.7%) (p<0.001). The low ASM rates were 104 (25%), i.e., in men were lower than in women; 34 (32.7%) vs 70 (67.3%) (p<0.001). The low HGS rates were 32 (8%), which was relatively similar between genders, 18 (56.3%) and 14 (43.8%) (p=0.464), and the low GS rates were 55 (13%), which was also similar between genders, 23 (42%) and 32 (58%) (p=0.25). Physically inactive was a risk factor for obesity in men (OR (95% CI)=1.2 (0.6-2)) and in women (OR (95% CI) = 1.5 (0.7-3)), for lower ASM (OR (95% CI) = 1.6 (0.9-3)), and for lower HGS (OR (95% CI) = 1.6 (0.6-4.2)). Physically inactive was not a risk factor for lower GS of OR (95% CI= 1 (0.6-2)). Conclusion: Most young adults were physically inactive, thus increasing the risk of obesity and decreasing muscle mass and muscle strength.