This prospective study of 146 twin pairs followed for 30 years quantified the association between long-term leisure-time physical activity, weight gain, and waist circumference. Of the146 twin pairs, 42 of them were consistently discordant in their self-reported physical activity levels during follow-up. Compared to the less active twin members, the average weight gain among the most active twins was 5.4 kg less. Consequently, the increase in waist circumference was also 8.4 cm lower in the active vs. sedentary twin members. These differences were not observed in twin pairs who reported similar physical activity levels during the follow-up. Results of this study clearly show that, independently of genetic background and childhood environment, promoting physical activity is pivotal for preventing weight and waist gain and related health hazards.
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