Original Article
International Journal of Obesity (2008) 32, 490–494; doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0803755; published online 23 October 2007
Routine stair climbing in place of residence and Body Mass Index: a pan-European population based study
E D Shenassa1, M Frye1, M Braubach2 and C Daskalakis3
- 1Epidemiology Section, Department of Community Health, Brown School of Medicine, Providence, RI, USA
- 2WHO, European Centre for Environment and Health, Bonn, WHO Regional Office for Europe
- 3Division of Biostatistics, Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Correspondence: Dr ED Shenassa, Epidemiology Section, Department of Community Health, Brown School of Medicine, 121 South Main Street, 2nd Floor, Room 214, Providence, RI 2912, USA. E-mail: Edmond_Shenassa@Brown.edu
Received 1 July 2007; Revised 17 September 2007; Accepted 19 September 2007; Published online 23 October 2007.
Abstract
Objective:
Stair climbing is highlighted as a component of a regiment of daily physical activity by various health agencies. This study examined the association between daily stair climbing, as measured by floor of residence in buildings without elevators, and body mass index (BMI).
Methods:
We analyzed data from a cross-sectional survey of housing and health, conducted by the WHO in eight European cities in 2002 and 2003. BMI was computed from self-reported height and weight; respondent and housing characteristics were also included in regression models that accounted for the clustering of respondents within the same household.
Results:
Among 2846 normal weight adults, there was an interaction between floor of residence and sex (P=0.017). Among men, residence on a higher floor was significantly associated with lower BMI (P=0.003); BMI of men residing on the fourth floor or above was 0.88 lower than men residing on the first floor. Among women, there was no significant association between floor of residence and BMI (P=0.161).
Conclusions:
These results suggest an association between daily stair climbing and BMI among men but not among women. If replicated, these results support initiatives encouraging stair climbing as a path toward physical fitness among men.
Keywords:
body mass index, exercise, walking, health survey, environment, controlled housing
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