FIGURE 3.

Association between quintiles of physical activity (PA) using the prevalent PA, PA change, and lagged-change analyses and long-term weight change among 117,992 US women and men in 3 prospective cohorts. In a multivariable-adjusted analysis, the PA of participants from the Nurses’ Health Study (n = 48,449), the Nurses’ Health Study II (n = 48,071) and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study (n = 21,472) was associated with a 4-y weight change over 16–24 y of follow-up. Data are β coefficients from multivariable linear regression representing weight change (lb/4 y ± 95% CI). Panel A shows the association between the quintiles of prevalent PA at the start of each 4-y period and weight change during the same 4-y period; panel B shows the relation between quintiles of 4-y PA change and weight change during the same 4-y period; and panel C shows the association between the quintiles of PA and weight change during the next 4-y period. See Supplemental Table 9 for median (minimum, maximum) values of PA and PA change by quintiles of PA and PA change, respectively. All findings were adjusted for age, baseline BMI at the start of each period, sleep duration, smoking status, amount of time spent watching television, alcohol use, change (B and C), or prevalent intake (A) of fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole-fat dairy foods, low-fat dairy foods, potato chips, potatoes, whole grains, refined grains, sugar-sweetened beverages, 100% fruit juice, diet soda, sweets or desserts, processed meats, unprocessed meats, fried foods consumed at home and away from home, and trans fat intake. To convert pounds to kilograms, multiply by 0.45. HPFS, Health Professionals Follow-Up Study; NHS, Nurses’ Health Study; NHS II, Nurses’ Health Study II; ref, reference.