The Sex-Stratified Relationship Between Sitting and Walking

Abstract

Emerging literature suggests that the untoward health consequences of decreased physical activity (e.g., walking) are, in part, a consequence of increased sitting time. However, the measurement of sitting behaviors has been predominantly based on self-report and sex-specific differences are largely unknown. A recently developed accelerometer, the ActivPal Professional (PAL; PAL Technologies LTD, Glasgow, United Kingdom), has the ability to detect time spent sitting, standing, and walking, as well as the number and duration of sitting bouts in discrete intervals and steps taken. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the sex-specific relationship between measures of sitting and walking in free-living situations. METHODS: Participants (n=30; n =16 females and 14 males; age range=18-45 years; BMI=23.9±3.1kg/m2) wore the PAL for 8 hours. The PAL was attached to the front of the right thigh using a gel adhesive pad. Pearson correlations were used to explore relationships between time spent sitting, standing, and walking, as well as number of sitting bouts and steps. A greater number of sitting bouts indicates more transitions. RESULTS: For the whole sample, significant correlations exist between number of sitting bouts and steps (r=.461, p=.01) and walk time (r=.544, p=.002). A nonsignificant negative relationship between sitting time and number of steps (r=−.193) and walk time (r=−.335) was observed. For males, a significant relationship exists between number of sitting bouts and steps (r=.731, p=.003) and walk time (r=.787, p<.001) and between sitting time and steps (r=−.694, p=.006) and walk time (r=−.724, p=.003). Although the same directional relationships exist as for all participants, none were significant for females only. CONCLUSIONS: The relationship between objective measures of sitting and walking were in expected directions. The more time spent sitting throughout the day, the less time a person spends walking, and the fewer steps are accumulated. These behaviors are more apparent in males but may reflect a lack of variation in female participants.