Association of Physical Activity with Phenotypic Age: Among Population with Different Breakfast Habits

Abstract The global aging situation has reached a serious stage, and healthy lifestyles, like active physical activity and eating breakfast, could slow the process. Phenotypic age (PhenoAge) is regarded as a novel measure of aging. Therefore, our study aimed to quantify the association of physical activity and eating breakfast on the aging, via PhenoAge. A total of 3,719 adults in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were involved. Physical activity was divided into active group and inactive group. According to the number of reported breakfast recalls, eating breakfast was divided into no, one, and both recalls group. Sensitivity analysis was performed by stratified analysis. Active physical activity was a protective factor, and there was an interaction between physical activity and eating breakfast on the PhenoAge. Compared to the inactive group, the β value of the active group was − 8.36(-10.09, -6.62) (P < 0.05). The stratified analysis results showed that in reported breakfast in both, one, and no recalls groups, the β values of the active group were − 8.84(-10.70, -6.98), -8.17(-12.34, -4.00), and − 3.46(-7.74, 0.82), respectively, compared to the inactive group. Active physical exercise was strongly correlated with lower PhenoAge, and the association was even stronger if combining with eating breakfast regularly.