Retirement often leads to a more passive lifestyle and may therefore lead to weight gain. This study investigated longitudinal associations between changes in 24-h movement behaviors and BMI and waist circumference in relation to the transition from work to retirement. 213 retiring public sector workers wore accelerometers and filled in daily logs for at least four days before and after retirement. Compositional linear regression analysis and isotemporal substitution analysis were used. Increasing MVPA relative to sleep, SED, and LPA was associated with decreasing BMI and waist circumference. Conversely, increasing sleep relative to other behaviors was associated with increasing BMI. Reallocating 60 min from MVPA to SED or sleep increased BMI and waist circumference. Maintaining MVPA levels after retirement is crucial to prevent weight gain.

Kristin Suorsa, Nidhi Gupta, Tuija Leskinen, Lars L. Andersen, Jesse Pasanen, Pasan Hettiarachchi, Peter J. Johansson, Jaana Pentti, Jussi Vahtera, Sari Stenholm