The relationship between anthropometry, dietary intake and physical activity in women (25-44 years) in Mangaung

Abstract

South Africa, like many other countries, is a country in transition, leading to political, demographic, social, economical, and nutritional changes, affecting particularly the African population. This new era is characterised by changes from the traditional lifestyle, to a more western sedentary lifestyle and eating habits, associated with chronic diseases of lifestyle, including obesity. In addition, the HIV/AIDS epidemic in South Africa cannot be ignored, since nutrition, physical activity and HIV are strongly related. The effect of the nutrition transition, including the increase in chronic diseases of lifestyle, has prompted the need to determine the association between anthropometry, dietary intake and physical activity. A representative sample of 500 African women, (age groups 25-34, and 35-44 years), from the Mangaung area of Bloemfontein, was selected for the study. Levels of physical activity, anthropometric status and dietary intake were determined. Physical activity was determined using an adapted questionnaire that classified respondents into one of three physical activity categories (low, normal and high). Weight, height, circumference (waist and hip), and bio-impedance measurements were obtained, and used to calculate body mass index, fat distribution and fat percentage of respondents. Dietary intake was determined by means of a standardized food frequency questionnaire, and analyzed to determine the habitual food intake of respondents. A very small percentage of both HIV negative and HIV positive younger and older women hac physical activity levels that fell within the normal to high category. Women that were unemployec generally had lower levels of physical activity than those that were employed. Employed womer perspired more, climbed more stairs and participated more in sporting activities than unemployeo women. As expected, women that fell in the normal to physically active category also cycled more, although watching television was a leisure time activity practiced by both physically inactive and physically active women. Anthropometric results included body mass index, fat distribution and fat percentage. More than fifty percent of respondents of HIV negative women had a body mass index above 25 kg/m2 • Fa1 distribution showed a gynoid fat distribution, with 83.5 percent of the women from the younger group, and 62.7 percent of women from the older group having a waist-hip-ratio smaller than 0.8. The fat percentages of both HIV negative and HIV positive women from both age groups were high. The BMI and fat percentage of HIV positive women was significantly lower than that of HIV negative women. Median dietary intakes indicated high energy and macronutrient intakes for both HIV positive and HIV negative women. Median intakes of the macronutrients calculated as percentage of the total daily energy intake showed that median percentage of protein fell within recommendations, while median percentage of carbohydrate and fat intake exceeded recommendations. Reverting to a more traditional lifestyle, including diet and physical activity, could assist in alleviating the conditions of over-and under nutrition, and unfavourable anthropometric parameters associated with the health status of these African women.