Trajectories of physical activity patterns across the life course in Mexican adults: findings from the Mexico city prospective study

The present study aimed to identify factors associated with distinct trajectories of physical activity (PA) patterns in Mexican adults during a 16-year follow-up. We included 9,958 adults aged 35 years or older enrolled in The Mexico City Prospective Study, a prospective cohort study conducted from 1998 to 2004 to 2015–2019. PA was assessed through self-reported questionnaires and categorized into three patterns: inactive, weekend warrior, and regularly active. PA pattern trajectories were derived from the two assessment periods and classified into four categories: inactive stable, decreased, increased/weekend warrior stable and regularly active stable. Sociodemographic characteristics, nutritional status, lifestyle factors, and health history were collected at baseline. Of the total sample, 66.7% were inactive stable, 14% decreased, 15% increased/weekend warriors stable, and 4.3% regularly active stable. Results revealed that women (OR = 1.75, 95%CI: 1.33–2.30), no educational level (OR = 14.72, 95%CI: 5.83–37.15) and obesity (OR = 1.75, 95%CI: 1.48–2.08) were associated with higher odds of being inactive stable. Among women, middle-aged was associated with lower odds of being inactive stable (OR = 0.71; 95%CI: 0.53–0.95), while no educational level (OR = 20.69; 95%CI: 6.25–68.52), obesity (OR = 1.91; 95%CI: 1.45–2.51), fruit and vegetable consumption “<5x/week” (OR = 2.05; 95%CI: 1.53–2.74) were associated with greater odds of being inactive stable. For men, no educational level (OR = 7.30; 95%CI: 1.65–32.25), fruit and vegetable consumption “<5x/week” (OR = 2.73; 95%CI: 1.91–3.90) were associated with higher odds of being inactive stable. Sex, age, education level, obesity, and fruit and vegetable consumption were associated with distinct trajectories of PA patterns. The factors associated with these trajectories varied by sex.