{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,7]],"date-time":"2025-07-07T05:40:10Z","timestamp":1751866810117,"version":"3.41.0"},"reference-count":35,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,7]],"date-time":"2025-07-07T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1751846400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Public Health"],"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title>Objective<\/jats:title><jats:p>Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is a prevalent endocrine disorder associated with metabolic and cardiovascular risks. While physical activity (PA) is well recognized for its benefits on metabolic and cardiovascular health, its relationship with SCH remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the associations between different types, intensities, and frequencies of PA and SCH prevalence using nationally representative data from the U. S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title><jats:p>Data from the 2007\u20132012 NHANES cycles were analyzed. Weighted univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were employed to assess the associations between PA and SCH prevalence. Curve fitting and threshold effect analyses were conducted to explore potential non-linear relationships, while subgroup analyses examined effect modifications by demographic and clinical factors.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>Among 6,133 participants included in the final analysis (approximately 20.15% of the total NHANES sample), the prevalence of SCH was 2.5%. Individuals without SCH exhibited significantly higher total PA duration, particularly in occupational physical activity (OPA), vigorous physical activity (VPA), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), MVPA intensity, and weekly frequency of vigorous occupational physical activity (VOPA). In the fully adjusted model, each 10-h\/week increase in VPA and MVPA was associated with 33% (OR\u202f=\u202f0.67, 95% CI: 0.49\u20130.91) and 11% (OR\u202f=\u202f0.89, 95% CI: 0.81\u20130.98) lower odds of SCH, respectively. A 10% increase in MVPA intensity was linked to an 8% reduction (OR\u202f=\u202f0.92, 95% CI: 0.87\u20130.97). Similar inverse associations were found for PA and OPA (PA: OR\u202f=\u202f0.90, 95% CI: 0.82\u20130.98; OPA: OR\u202f=\u202f0.90, 95% CI: 0.81\u20130.99). Among PA frequency measures, only VOPA frequency was significant, with each additional session per week associated with a 17% reduction in odds (OR\u202f=\u202f0.83, 95% CI: 0.74\u20130.94). Curve fitting analysis revealed a non-linear relationship between MVPA intensity and SCH prevalence, with a threshold at 57.14%. Below this threshold, higher MVPA intensity was associated with lower SCH prevalence (<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u202f=\u202f0.001), whereas above this threshold, the association became non-significant. Subgroup analyses identified a significant interaction with age, where the protective effects of PA and OPA were significant only in individuals aged &amp;lt;60\u202fyears.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title><jats:p>This study suggests that higher PA levels, particularly at greater intensities and frequencies, are associated with a lower prevalence of SCH, especially in individuals aged &amp;lt;60\u202fyears. These findings highlight the potential role of regular, high-intensity PA in reducing SCH risk.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2025.1499070","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,7]],"date-time":"2025-07-07T05:27:17Z","timestamp":1751866037000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Associations of physical activity type, intensity, and frequency with subclinical hypothyroidism: a cross-sectional analysis of NHANES 2007\u20132012"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"Zeyu","family":"Li","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Yu","family":"Mao","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Xiaoyong","family":"Wen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Guangji","family":"Chen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Shiwei","family":"Zhou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,7]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"526","DOI":"10.1001\/archinte.160.4.526","article-title":"The Colorado thyroid disease prevalence study","volume":"160","author":"Canaris","year":"2000","journal-title":"Arch Intern Med"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"489","DOI":"10.1210\/jcem.87.2.8182","article-title":"Serum Tsh, T(4), and thyroid antibodies in the United States population (1988 to 1994): National Health and nutrition examination survey (Nhanes iii)","volume":"87","author":"Hollowell","year":"2002","journal-title":"J Clin Endocrinol Metab"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"153","DOI":"10.1001\/jama.2019.9052","article-title":"Subclinical hypothyroidism: a review","volume":"322","author":"Biondi","year":"2019","journal-title":"JAMA"},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1241","DOI":"10.2337\/dc18-2432","article-title":"Diabetes prevalence by leisure-, transportation-, and occupation-based physical activity among racially\/ethnically diverse U.S. adults","volume":"42","author":"Divney","year":"2019","journal-title":"Diabetes Care"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"709","DOI":"10.1111\/apt.17308","article-title":"Vigorous physical activity provides protection against all-cause deaths among adults patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (Nafld)","volume":"57","author":"Henry","year":"2023","journal-title":"Aliment Pharmacol Ther"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"870","DOI":"10.1089\/thy.2020.0517","article-title":"Thyroid function and physical activity: a population-based cohort study","volume":"31","author":"Roa Due\u00f1as","year":"2021","journal-title":"Thyroid"},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1277","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-024-18768-4","article-title":"Association between physical activity and thyroid function in American adults: a survey from the Nhanes database","volume":"24","author":"Tian","year":"2024","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"657","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2265.1984.tb00116.x","article-title":"The thyroid function in young men during prolonged exercise and the effect of energy and sleep deprivation","volume":"20","author":"Opstad","year":"1984","journal-title":"Clin Endocrinol"},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"112","DOI":"10.1186\/s12902-021-00772-z","article-title":"Lifestyle is associated with thyroid function in subclinical hypothyroidism: a cross-sectional study","volume":"21","author":"Wu","year":"2021","journal-title":"BMC Endocr Disord"},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1289553","DOI":"10.3389\/fendo.2024.1289553","article-title":"Associations between the platelet\/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio and likelihood of nephrolithiasis: a cross-sectional analysis in United States adults","volume":"15","author":"Ni","year":"2024","journal-title":"Front Endocrinol"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"329","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jad.2023.07.113","article-title":"Whether weekend warrior activity and other leisure-time physical activity pattern reduce the risk of depression symptom in the representative adults? A population-based analysis of Nhanes 2007-2020","volume":"340","author":"Liang","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Affect Disord"},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1054046","DOI":"10.3389\/fendo.2022.1054046","article-title":"Occupational and domestic physical activity and diabetes risk in adults: results from a long-term follow-up cohort","volume":"13","author":"Wang","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front Endocrinol"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"529","DOI":"10.1007\/s10654-015-0056-z","article-title":"Physical activity and the risk of type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and dose-response Meta-analysis","volume":"30","author":"Aune","year":"2015","journal-title":"Eur J Epidemiol"},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"56","DOI":"10.1152\/physiol.00038.2018","article-title":"High-intensity exercise and mitochondrial biogenesis: current controversies and future research directions","volume":"34","author":"Bishop","year":"2019","journal-title":"Physiol"},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e000143","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjsem-2016-000143","article-title":"Update on the effects of physical activity on insulin sensitivity in humans","volume":"2","author":"Bird","year":"2016","journal-title":"BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med"},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"607","DOI":"10.1038\/nri3041","article-title":"The anti-inflammatory effects of exercise: mechanisms and implications for the prevention and treatment of disease","volume":"11","author":"Gleeson","year":"2011","journal-title":"Nat Rev Immunol"},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2964","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-024-20357-4","article-title":"Physical activity levels and musculoskeletal disease risk in adults aged 45 and above: a cross-sectional study","volume":"24","author":"Zhu","year":"2024","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2346","DOI":"10.1093\/eurheartj\/ehx686","article-title":"Personalized exercise dose prescription","volume":"39","author":"Zubin Maslov","year":"2018","journal-title":"Eur Heart J"},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"98","DOI":"10.1186\/s40798-021-00394-8","article-title":"24-hour physical behavior balance for better health for all: \"the sweet-spot hypothesis\"","volume":"7","author":"Holtermann","year":"2021","journal-title":"Sports Med Open"},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"964030","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2022.964030","article-title":"Deconstruction of physical fitness assessment system and medical rehabilitation countermeasures for physically disabled teenagers with natural language processing technology","volume":"10","author":"Wang","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front Public Health"},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1622","DOI":"10.1001\/jama.288.13.1622","article-title":"Exercise training and the cardiovascular consequences of type 2 diabetes and hypertension: plausible mechanisms for improving cardiovascular health","volume":"288","author":"Stewart","year":"2002","journal-title":"JAMA"},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3348","DOI":"10.3390\/nu14163348","article-title":"Prevalence and correlates of metabolic syndrome and its components in Chinese children and adolescents aged 7-17: the China National Nutrition and health survey of children and lactating mothers from 2016-2017","volume":"14","author":"Shi","year":"2022","journal-title":"Nutrients"},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"867690","DOI":"10.3389\/fnut.2022.867690","article-title":"Very low-carbohydrate high-fat diet improves risk markers for Cardiometabolic health more than exercise in men and women with overfat constitution: secondary analysis of a randomized controlled clinical trial","volume":"9","author":"Cipryan","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front Nutr"},{"key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4485","DOI":"10.1113\/JP271270","article-title":"Promoting brain health through exercise and diet in older adults: a physiological perspective","volume":"594","author":"Jackson","year":"2016","journal-title":"J Physiol"},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"257","DOI":"10.1002\/dmrr.2488","article-title":"Changes in insulin sensitivity in response to different modalities of exercise: a review of the evidence","volume":"30","author":"Mann","year":"2014","journal-title":"Diabetes Metab Res Rev"},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1194","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cell.2013.05.039","article-title":"The hallmarks of aging","volume":"153","author":"Lopez-Otin","year":"2013","journal-title":"Cell"},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"576","DOI":"10.1038\/s41574-018-0059-4","article-title":"Inflammaging: a new immune-metabolic viewpoint for age-related diseases","volume":"14","author":"Franceschi","year":"2018","journal-title":"Nat Rev Endocrinol"},{"key":"ref28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"647","DOI":"10.1016\/S2213-8587(18)30026-3","article-title":"The physiology of endocrine systems with ageing","volume":"6","author":"van den Beld","year":"2018","journal-title":"Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol"},{"key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"199","DOI":"10.3897\/folmed.65.e75390","article-title":"Serum levels of leptin and adiponectin in patients with autoimmune Hashimoto'S thyroiditis","volume":"65","author":"Tomov","year":"2023","journal-title":"Folia Med"},{"key":"ref30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2548","DOI":"10.1210\/jc.2004-0395","article-title":"Adipose tissue as an endocrine organ","volume":"89","author":"Kershaw","year":"2004","journal-title":"J Clin Endocrinol Metab"},{"key":"ref31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"6185","DOI":"10.1210\/jc.2005-0003","article-title":"Spontaneous diurnal thyrotropin secretion is enhanced in proportion to circulating leptin in obese premenopausal women","volume":"90","author":"Kok","year":"2005","journal-title":"J Clin Endocrinol Metab"},{"key":"ref32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"R137","DOI":"10.1530\/EJE-14-0067","article-title":"Mechanisms in endocrinology: the crosstalk between thyroid gland and adipose tissue: signal integration in health and disease","volume":"171","author":"Santini","year":"2014","journal-title":"Eur J Endocrinol"},{"key":"ref33","first-page":"6","article-title":"Position statement. Part one: immune function and exercise","volume":"17","author":"Walsh","year":"2011","journal-title":"Exerc Immunol Rev"},{"key":"ref34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"101795","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ctcp.2023.101795","article-title":"Effects of aerobic, resistance, and combined training on thyroid function and quality of life in hypothyroidism. A randomized controlled trial","volume":"53","author":"Ahmad","year":"2023","journal-title":"Complement Ther Clin Pract"},{"key":"ref35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"161","DOI":"10.1007\/BF01048714","article-title":"Thyroid function during intermittent exposure to hypobaric hypoxia","volume":"34","author":"Sawhney","year":"1990","journal-title":"Int J Biometeorol"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Public Health"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpubh.2025.1499070\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,7]],"date-time":"2025-07-07T05:27:18Z","timestamp":1751866038000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpubh.2025.1499070\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,7]]},"references-count":35,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fpubh.2025.1499070"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpubh.2025.1499070","relation":{},"ISSN":["2296-2565"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2296-2565","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,7]]}}}