Accelerometer-measured Sedentary Patterns Are Related To Poorer Inhibitory Control In Obese-middle-aged Adults

Abstract

Self-reported sedentary behaviors have been negatively related to executive functions (EFs) in older adults. However, the relationship of objectively measured sedentary time (ST) to EFs in adults with overweight and obesity is poorly understood. PURPOSE: To assess the relationship between accelerometer-measured ST and inhibitory control in middle-aged adults with overweight and obesity. METHODS: Pre-intervention data from 87 subjects (60 (67%) females, Mage = 35.0 ± 5.9 yrs, BMI= 32.2 ± 5.4 kg/m2) participating in the Persea Americana for Total Health randomized controlled trial were analyzed. ST and physical activity were measured over 7 days with a hip-worn wGT3X-BT accelerometer. Valid wear time was defined as ≥ 4 days, ≥ 10 hrs/d. Daily ST (min/d), frequency, and time spent in sedentary bouts lasting ≥ 5, 10, 20 and 30 consecutive min were estimated using a < 100 counts per minute (CPM) cut point. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was defined using an NHANES cut point. Inhibitory control was expressed as accuracy (AC), reaction time (RT), and inverse efficiency (IE = AC/RT) on incongruent trials of a modified Eriksen flanker task; performance on congruent trials indexed controlled processes. Multiple hierarchical regression models controlling for age, sex, intelligence, % fat mass, MVPA and ST (for sedentary bouts) were used to assess relationships between ST, sedentary bouts, inhibitory control, and controlled processes. RESULTS: Frequency (bs ≤ -0.22, ts ≥ 2.11, Ps ≤ 0.04, Fs(6,86) ≥ 3.25, Ps ≤ 0.007) and time (bs ≤ -0.22, ts ≥ 2.01, Ps ≤ 0.047, Fs(6,86) ≥ 3.17, Ps ≤ 0.008) spent in sedentary bouts lasting ≥ 20 and 30 min were associated with lower AC during incongruent trials. While ST and time spent in sedentary bouts ≥ 20 min were related to faster RTs during congruent trials (bs ≤ -0.23, ts ≥ 2.08, Ps ≤ 0.04, Fs(6,86) ≥ 3.04, Ps ≤ 0.01), greater ST was related to lower IE on congruent and incongruent trials (bs ≤ -0.43, ts ≥ 2.33, Ps ≤ 0.023, Fs(7,86) ≥ 2.76, Ps ≤ 0.01). CONCLUSION: In adults with overweight and obesity, more prolonged ST was related to poorer inhibitory control and less efficient controlled processes as indicated by more impulsive responding. Our results reveal a novel relationship between sedentary patterns and an aspect of EFs that has been implicated in the maintenance of obesogenic behaviors.