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Sitting less may be more effective approach to reduce diabetes risk
Lifestyle changes are often encouraged in patients at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Researchers in the United Kingdom found that suggesting reduced sedentary time compared with vigorous physical activity could have beneficial health outcomes. The findings were published in the journal Diabetologia.
“These studies provide preliminary evidence that sedentary behavior may be a more effective way to target the prevention of type 2 diabetes, rather than just solely focusing on moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Moreover, sedentary time occupies large portions of the day, unlike moderate-to-vigorous physical activity,” researcher Joseph Henson, MSc, of the department of cardiovascular sciences at the University of Leicester, and Leicester Diabetes Centre at Leicester General Hospital in the United Kingdom, said in a press release.
Henson and colleagues conducted a study examining patient data from two ongoing diabetes prevention programs: Project Sedentary Time And Diabetes (STAND; n=158; mean age, 33 years, 29% men); and Walking Away From Type 2 Diabetes (n=725; mean age, 64 years, 65% men).
The researchers used ActiGraph GT3X accelerometers (15 seconds/epochs) to study sedentary time (<25 counts/15 seconds), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (488 counts/15 seconds), and total physical activity (total counts). Breaks were considered as any interruption in sedentary time, they wrote.
According to data, breaks in sedentary time, total physical activity and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity were significantly inversely linked to measures of adiposity. Subsequently, adjustments made for covariates, including moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and BMI, demonstrated a detrimental linear association of sedentary time with fasting plasma glucose (P<.001), triglycerides (P=.001) and HDL cholesterol (P=.029). However, they were not associated with any other cardiometabolic variables after adjustments for sedentary time and BMI, researchers wrote.
They concluded that these findings provide important public health implications. However, the researchers said the study should act as a framework for future studies rather than a direct link between sitting time and metabolic health.
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.