Wanty Arruan, Agussalim Bukhari, Nevi Dwi Handayani, Nurpudji Astuti Taslim, Andi Faradillah, Aminuddin Aminuddin
Background: Decreased physical activity in modern society, influenced by life style and technology, leads to energy imbalances that impact nutrition, obesity, and body composition issues, which increase the risk of metabolic diseases, such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease,and dyslipidaemia.
Objective: This study aimed to determine the relationship of physical activity to nutritional status and body compositionin traditional and modern populations in South Sulawesi.
Methods: This study was an observational study with across-sectional approach, which examined the relationship between variables in modern and traditional groups. The study was conducted in Tana To a village and Makassar city from February to November 2022. Each group consisted of 50 adults who met the criteria. Data were collected through IPAQ questionnaire and direct measurement for anthropometric data and body composition. Data were analysed usingSPSS version 26.
Results: The results showed that the traditional groupper formed moderate physical activity (56%), while the modern group performed light physical activity (58%) with p <0.001. BMI, waist circumference, fat mass and visceral fat had a negative correlation with physical activity, where subjects with over weight-obese BMI tended to be less active(r= -0.298, p= 0.003), subjects with central obesity, high fat mass and high visceral fat performed more low activities:(r= -0.403, p <0.001) (r= -0.425, p <0.001), (r= -0,335, p= 0.001). Muscle mass had a positive correlation with physical activity where subjects with normal muscle mass were more active (r= 0.356, p <0.001). However, the relationship between physical activity and bone mass was not significant (p = 0.111).
Conclusion: Light physical activity found in the modern population compared to traditional population affects nutritional status and body composition which increase body mass index, waist circumference, fat mass and visceral fat.