Abstract
This study compared the short-term continuously monitored glucose responses between higher and lower amounts of prolonged sitting in overweight and obese adults under free-living conditions. In a randomised crossover design, 12 participants (age 48 ± 10 years, body mass index 33.3 ± 5.5 kg/m2) completed two four-day experimental regimens while wearing a continuous glucose monitor, as follows: (1) uninterrupted sitting (participants were instructed to sit for ≥10 h/day and accrue ≥7, 1 h sitting bouts each day), and (2) interrupted sitting (participants were instructed to interrupt sitting every 30 min during ten of their waking hours with 6–10 min of activity accrued in each hour). Linear mixed models compared outcomes between regimens. None of the continuously monitored glucose variables differed between regimens, e.g., 24 h net incremental area under the glucose curve was 5.9 [95% CI: −1.4, 13.1] and 5.6 [95% CI: −1.7, 12.8] mmol/L∙24 h, respectively (p = 0.47). Daily sitting (−58 min/day, p = 0.001) and sitting bouts lasting ≥30 min (−99 min/day, p < 0.001) were significantly lower and stepping time significantly higher (+40 min/day, p < 0.001) in the interrupted sitting than the uninterrupted sitting regimen. In conclusion, lower amounts of daily and prolonged sitting did not improve free-living continuously measured glucose among overweight and obese adults.
Highlights
Overweight and obesity contribute significantly to insulin resistance and glucose intolerance [1,2]
Interventions to aid with the management of glucose metabolism in these individuals is important to reduce the risk of insulin resistance and subsequent cardiometabolic disease [1,3]
Repeated elevations in glucose concentrations can lead to a plethora of metabolic disturbances that increase the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease, including insulin resistance, pancreatic β-cell deficiency, oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction [4,5]
Summary
Overweight and obesity contribute significantly to insulin resistance and glucose intolerance [1,2]. Dunstan et al [15] reported that overweight or obese individuals with normal fasting glucose had similar reductions (24–30%) in postprandial glucose in response to interrupting sitting for 2 min every 20 min with light or moderate-intensity walking. In overweight adults with normal fasting glucose concentrations, four days of sitting for 7.6 h, standing for 4.0 h and light-intensity walking for 4.3 h per day led to significant improvements in insulin sensitivity and reductions in insulin during an oral glucose tolerance test compared with four days of sitting for. The effects of interrupting sitting on free-living continuous glucose concentrations, has not been evaluated in overweight and obese participants This gap in research should be addressed to extend knowledge with regard to reducing and breaking up sitting being used as a potential intervention strategy for reducing the risk of T2DM and cardiovascular disease in this ‘at risk’ population [21]. The secondary aim was to evaluate sitting, standing and stepping responses to the free-living experimental protocols
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