Introduction
Obesity is a matter of concern globally and its prevalence continues to grow among older adults. Few studies have explored the association of sedentary behavior with obesity in older adults and substantial amount of these studies used only self-reported measures for assessment. Furthermore, the reported findings regarding the associations between sedentary behavior and obesity are inconsistent. The aim of the present study was to examine the associations between objectively measured sedentary behavior and adiposity markers in older men and women and to examine whether these associations are sex-specific and independent of physical activity level.
Materials and Methods
A cross sectional data analysis was performed on 229 participants (145 women, age 65-70 years). Using accelerometers, sedentary behavior (total, bouts of ≥ 10 minutes and ≥30 minutes), breaks in sedentary behavior and Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity were monitored for 7 days. Markers of adiposity included are: Body Mass Index, Waist Circumference, Fat mass percentage and Trunk fat mass percentage, assessed using standardized anthropometrical tools and bioelectrical impedance analysis. Pearson’s partial correlation analysis, stratified by gender, was performed to determine the relationship between adiposity markers and the sedentary behavior parameters, while controlling for accelerometer wear time, MVPA and energy intake.
Results
Total sedentary time was associated with the adiposity markers (BMI: r=0.193, WC: r= 0.201, Fat mass percentage: r=0.329 and Trunk fat mass percentage: r=0.314 all p˂0.05) independent of time spent in MVPA in older women. Similar associations between adiposity markers and bouts of ≥ 10 minutes and ≥30 minutes of sedentary time was found in older women. An inverse significant relationship was also observed between breaks in sedentary time and all adiposity markers in older women. In contrast, no corresponding associations were observed in older men. Conclusion: Our findings emphasize the existence of sex-differences in links between sedentary behavior and adiposity in older adults. In older women only, sedentary behavior was associated with markers of adiposity. Thus, reduction of total sedentary time in order to counteract the development of obesity is particularly important for older women.