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Table 3 The mediating role of diet and physical activity on the relationship between SEP and BMI using the product of coefficients mediation method in the MCCS ^ study population

From: The mediating role of dietary factors and leisure time physical activity on socioeconomic inequalities in body mass index among Australian adults

 

Association between education* and mediator

Association between mediator and BMI†

Mediated effect

Proportion mediated

 a

95% CI

 b

95% CI

 ab

95% CI

%

LTPA#

M

 0.69

(0.55, 0.83)

−0.10

(−0.12, -0.09)

−0.07

(−0.09, -0.05)

8%

W

 0.70

(0.59, 0.80)

−0.15

(−0.17, -0.13)

−0.10

(−0.12, -0.09)

10%

Alcohol

M

 0.35

(−0.58, 1.31)

 0.00

(0.00, 0.01)

   

W

 3.50

(3.11, 3.89)

−0.03

(−0.03, -0.02)

−0.10

(−0.13, -0.08)

10%

Diet soft drink

M

−0.23

(−0.37, -0.09)

 0.16

(0.13, 0.18)

−0.04

(−0.06, -0.01)

4%

W

−0.41

(−0.52, -0.30)

 0.20

(0.18, 0.23)

−0.08

(−0.11, -0.06)

8%

Soft drink

M

−0.68

(−0.84, -0.52)

 0.06

(0.04, 0.08)

−0.04

(−0.06, -0.03)

5%

W

−0.33

(−0.42, -0.25)

 0.05

(0.02, 0.08)

−0.02

(−0.03, -0.01)

2%

Healthy snacks

M

 0.14

(0.13, 0.16)

−0.01

(−0.15, 0.13)

   

W

 0.11

(0.10, 0.12)

−0.27

(−0.46, -0.09)

−0.03

(−0.05, -0.01)

3%

Healthy savoury

M

 1.90

(1.54, 2.25)

−0.02

(−0.03, -0.01)

−0.04

(−0.06, -0.03)

4%

W

 2.42

(2.14, 2.71)

−0.01

(−0.02, 0.00)

−0.03

(−0.05, -0.01)

3%

Fruit and vegetables

M

 0.07

(0.06, 0.09)

−0.12

(−0.27, 0.03)

   

W

 0.09

(0.07, 0.10)

 0.12

(−0.02, 0.25)

   

Sweet snacks

M

−0.68

(−1.08, -0.29)

−0.03

(−0.03, -0.02)

 0.02

(0.01, 0.03)

−2%

W

−1.16

(−1.46, -0.86)

−0.01

(−0.02, 0.00)

 0.01

(0.00, 0.02)

−1%

Unhealthy savoury

M

−2.66

(−3.04, -2.27)

 0.03

(0.02, 0.04)

−0.07

(−0.10, -0.05)

8%

W

−2.26

(−2.5, -2.02)

 0.06

(0.05, 0.07)

−0.14

(−0.16, -0.11)

13%

Total mediated effect

M

    

−0.24

(−0.29, -0.20)

27%

W

    

−0.49

(−0.54, -0.44)

48%

  1. Note: The total mediated effect and proportion mediated was calculated only for those variables which were significantly related to education (a) or BMI (b). Boldface is used to denote significant relationships. * Lowest educational attainment is the reference category.
  2. † Where zero consumption or not meeting guidelines is the reference category.
  3. # Leisure time physical activity (times/week).
  4. ^ This study utilises a sample of 30,630 participants from the baseline sample of the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study (MCCS) which was conducted in Melbourne between 1990 and 1994.