The Impact of Physical Activity on Non-communicable Diseases: Findings from 20 Years of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study

Context: Low physical activity is one of the major risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCD) such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. The current paper reviews the main findings from Tehran lipid and glucose study (TLGS) that focus on physical activity and its association with cardiometabolic risk factors over the past two decades. Evidence Acquisition: We conducted a literature search for articles from 1999 to December 2017 using the search terms: (Physical activity, leisure time physical activity, non-communicable disease, and TLGS). Results: The prevalence of low physical activity was 69.8% during phase II of TLGS (2000 - 2004). During 6.5 years of follow up, the prevalence of low physical activity in the total population decreased significantly between phases II (2000 - 2004) and IV of TLGS (2008 -2010) (P < 0.05). Overweight individuals with sedentary lifestyles had a higher risk of metabolic syndrome, compared to those who had high levels of leisure-time physical activity in phase IV of TLGS (2008 - 2010); in the obese group, systolic blood pressure, and triglyceride levels differed significantly between different leisure-time physical activity categories (106.9 +/- 14.3 vs. 119.1 +/- 17.2 mmHg, P = 0.03) and (111.4 +/- 1.6 vs. 147.1 +/- 1.6 mg/dL, P = 0.01), respectively. Conclusions: The present review highlights the impact of low physical activity on the health of the TLGS community from adolescence to adulthood. The decreased prevalence of low physical activity from phase II to phase I V of TLGS indicates the necessity for lifestyle interventions as a potentially effective strategy, which could have a positive impact on various risk factors and indicators of non-communicable diseases such as body mass index, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, and lipid profiles.