Objectively Assessed Physical Activity and Weight Loss Maintenance among Individuals Enrolled in a Lifestyle Intervention

ObjectiveTo examine the relationship between objectively assessed moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) and 4-year weight loss (WL) and WL maintenance among individuals with diabetes enrolled in the Look AHEAD trial. MethodsMVPA was measured in a subgroup of lifestyle intervention participants with accelerometry data at baseline and at 1 and 4 years (n=553; age: 59.76.8 y; BMI: 35.55.9 kg/m(2)). Minutes per week of bout-related MVPA were calculated (3 metabolic equivalents,10-min bouts), and adherence to the national physical activity (PA) recommendation for WL maintenance (250 min/wk) was assessed. ResultsIndependent of 1-year WL, 4-year MVPA (=-0.003, SE=0.002, P=0.006), but not 1-year MVPA (=0.0001, SE=0.001, P=0.50), was significantly associated with 4-year WL. Compared with nonmaintainers (10% WL at year 1, but<10% at year 4; n=132), WL maintainers (10% WL at years 1 and 4; n=103) had higher MVPA at year 1 (253.4 +/- 251.8 vs. 163.9 +/- 158.2 min/wk, P=0.002) and year 4 (155.3 +/- 180.6 vs. 111.4 +/- 154.5 min/wk, P=0.046). Although 38.8% and 22.3% of WL maintainers engaged in250 min/wk at years 1 and 4, respectively, many engaged in<150 min/wk (year 1: 41%, year 4: 61%). ConclusionsHigher weekly MVPA is associated with greater long-term WL and weight maintenance; however, many individuals are able to maintain10% WL while engaging in little MVPA.