Abstract
Sedentary behaviors, low levels of physical activity (PA), and low body image quality of life have been identified during college years and associated with poor health outcomes. Public health efforts have recently focused on decreasing sedentary time by increasing light physical activity, both of which have been associated with body image quality of life, though mainly through self-report. In this cross-sectional study, we examined objective actigraphy and survey data from 404 of 459 young adults with overweight and obesity (mean age 23.3 ± 4.4 years, 78.4% female, 55.4% white). PA was measured using an accelerometer worn during waking hours for >10 h/day for four days. Body image quality of life was assessed using the Body Image Quality of Life Inventory Scale. Body image was positively correlated with light PA (r = 0.15) and inversely correlated with BMI (Pearson’s r = −0.20) and sedentary time (r = −0.10), but not moderate PA, vigorous PA, or MVPA. Light PA and sedentary time were significantly inversely correlated (r = −0.38). When controlling for covariates, higher body image quality of life was significantly associated with higher levels of light PA (β = 0.39; p < 0.01) and lower sedentary time (β = −0.39; p = 0.02). Participants with lower body image quality of life enrolled in weight loss interventions may benefit from prescriptions of light PA in conjunction with decreasing sedentary behaviors.
Highlights
Sedentary behaviors are associated with negative health outcomes and US adults experience a high amount of time spent being sedentary [1]
Participants achieved an average of 219.0 ± 61.4 min of light physical activity (LPA)/day, 44.5 ± 23.8 min of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA)/day, and on average were sedentary for 550.4 ± 76.4 min, or 9.17 h/day
This study is strengthened by the use of objective device measures of PA, as many researchers have relied on self-report measures to examine its relationship to body image [19]. In this population of young adults with overweight and obesity, a more positive body image quality of life was associated with increased average minutes of light physical activity and decreased average minutes of sedentary time per day
Summary
Sedentary behaviors are associated with negative health outcomes and US adults experience a high amount of time spent being sedentary [1]. A recent meta-analysis found that sedentary time was associated with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cardiovascular all-cause mortality, independent of time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) [3]. While achievement of MVPA is commonly promoted in weight loss interventions and public health efforts [4], light physical activity (LPA) contributes to a greater total daily energy expenditure [5] compared to MVPA. The 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines suggest decreasing all-cause mortality by replacing sedentary time with LPA [7]. For populations needing larger calorie expenditure (e.g., adults with overweight or obesity seeking to lose weight), it is important to consider factors that may be associated with sedentary time and LPA to shift sedentary time to LPA, thereby expending more energy daily
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