Abstract
PurposeImprecise measurement of physical activity variables might attenuate estimates of the beneficial effects of activity on health-related outcomes. We aimed to compare the cardiometabolic risk factor dose-response relationships for physical activity and sedentary behaviour between accelerometer- and questionnaire-based activity measures.MethodsPhysical activity and sedentary behaviour were assessed in 317 adults by 7-day accelerometry and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Fasting blood was taken to determine insulin, glucose, triglyceride and total, LDL and HDL cholesterol concentrations and homeostasis model-estimated insulin resistance (HOMAIR). Waist circumference, BMI, body fat percentage and blood pressure were also measured.ResultsFor both accelerometer-derived sedentary time (<100 counts.min−1) and IPAQ-reported sitting time significant positive (negative for HDL cholesterol) relationships were observed with all measured risk factors – i.e. increased sedentary behaviour was associated with increased risk (all p≤0.01). However, for HOMAIR and insulin the regression coefficients were >50% lower for the IPAQ-reported compared to the accelerometer-derived measure (p<0.0001 for both interactions). The relationships for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and risk factors were less strong than those observed for sedentary behaviours, but significant negative relationships were observed for both accelerometer and IPAQ MVPA measures with glucose, and insulin and HOMAIR values (all p<0.05). For accelerometer-derived MVPA only, additional negative relationships were seen with triglyceride, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol concentrations, BMI, waist circumference and percentage body fat, and a positive relationship was evident with HDL cholesterol (p = 0.0002). Regression coefficients for HOMAIR, insulin and triglyceride were 43–50% lower for the IPAQ-reported compared to the accelerometer-derived MVPA measure (all p≤0.01).ConclusionUsing the IPAQ to determine sitting time and MVPA reveals some, but not all, relationships between these activity measures and metabolic and vascular disease risk factors. Using this self-report method to quantify activity can therefore underestimate the strength of some relationships with risk factors.
Highlights
There is clear evidence from a large body of epidemiological data that high levels of physical activity are associated with reduced risk of a number of adverse health outcomes, including type 2 diabetes [1], cardiovascular disease [2], and mortality from any cause [2]
There is a growing body of evidence that high levels of sedentary time – usually assessed as time spent sitting or watching television – are associated with adverse metabolic and vascular health outcomes [3,4,5,6,7], and these effects are often independent of physical activity level
There were significant interactions between the linear regression lines for accelerometer-derived vs International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)-reported moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) relationships for insulin concentration, triglyceride concentration and homeostasis model-estimated insulin resistance (HOMAIR), with b coefficients being 43%, 50% and 50% greater for the accelerometer-derived compared to IPAQ-reported MVPA measures, respectively
Summary
There is clear evidence from a large body of epidemiological data that high levels of physical activity are associated with reduced risk of a number of adverse health outcomes, including type 2 diabetes [1], cardiovascular disease [2], and mortality from any cause [2]. Much of the evidence generated in this area – on which current physical activity guidelines have largely been based [10,11] – has derived from estimates of physical activity or sedentary behaviour from self-report questionnaires. Such questionnaires are easy to administer, inexpensive and do not alter behaviour, making them well suited to large-scale investigations [8,9].
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