Sitting Time, Type, and Context Among Long‐Term Weight‐Loss Maintainers

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate sitting time, the home sedentary environment, and physical activity among weight-loss maintainers in WW (formerly Weight Watchers). Participants were 4,305 weight-loss maintainers who had maintained≥9.1kg of weight loss (24.7kg on average) for 3.3years and had an average current BMI of 27.6kg/m2 . A control group of weight-stable individuals with obesity (n=619) had an average BMI of 38.9kg/m2 . The Multicontext Sitting Time Questionnaire and Paffenbarger physical activity questionnaire were administered. Weight-loss maintainers versus controls spent 3hours less per day sitting during the week (10.9 vs. 13.9; = 0.039; P=0.0001) and weekends (9.7 vs. 12.6; = 0.038). Weight-loss maintainers versus controls spent 1hour less per day in non-work-related sitting using a computer or video games during the week (1.4 vs. 2.3; = 0.03; P=0.0001) and weekends (1.5 vs. 2.5; = 0.03; P=0.0001). Weight-loss maintainers versus controls had similar numbers of sedentary-promoting devices (15.8 vs. 14.8) and expended significantly more calories per week in physical activity (1,835 vs. 785; = 0.036; P=0.0001). Weight-loss maintainers reported less time sitting than weight-stable individuals with obesity. Future research should test the efficacy of targeting sitting time to help promote long-term weight-loss maintenance.