Metabolic Effects of Three Different Activity Bouts during Sitting in Inactive Adults.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether interrupting prolonged sitting with different walking-bout schedules improves glycemic metabolism compared to continuous sitting in sedentary adults.
Results Summary
All three walking-bout conditions (3-min, 5-min, and 8-min walks) improved glycemic metabolism compared to uninterrupted sitting, with reductions in mean glucose concentration and glucose area under the curve, both during the 9-h intervention and over 26 h. The effects were statistically significant and consistent across different walking schedules.
Population
16 inactive, healthy adults (7 men, average age 24 ± 3 years).
Effective Dosage
Three schedules: 30-min sitting/3-min walk, 45-min sitting/5-min walk, and 60-min sitting/8-min walk (all at 60% VO2max).
Duration
Four 26-h laboratory sessions, with a 9-h intervention period per session.
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
interrupting prolonged sitting with three different walking-bout schedules | increase | glycemic metabolism | sedentary adults | - | improves | #1 |
WALK8 (60-min sitting/8-min brisk treadmill walk) | decrease | 26-h mean glucose concentration | inactive healthy adults | Δmean -0.22 mmol·L | attenuated | #2 |
WALK3 (30-min sitting/3-min brisk treadmill walk) | decrease | 26-h mean glucose concentration | inactive healthy adults | Δ-0.47 mmol·L | attenuated | #3 |
WALK5 (45-min sitting/5-min brisk treadmill walk) | decrease | 26-h mean glucose concentration | inactive healthy adults | Δ-0.47 mmol·L | attenuated | #4 |
WALK8 (60-min sitting/8-min brisk treadmill walk) | decrease | 26-h mean glucose concentration | inactive healthy adults | Δ-0.53 mmol·L | attenuated | #5 |
WALK3 (30-min sitting/3-min brisk treadmill walk) | decrease | 26-h tAUC | inactive healthy adults | Δ-11.18 mmol·L per 26 h | reduced | #6 |
WALK5 (45-min sitting/5-min brisk treadmill walk) | decrease | 26-h tAUC | inactive healthy adults | Δ-12.67 mmol·L per 26 h | reduced | #7 |
WALK8 (60-min sitting/8-min brisk treadmill walk) | decrease | 26-h tAUC | inactive healthy adults | Δ-13.85 mmol·L per 26 h | reduced | #8 |
WALK3 (30-min sitting/3-min brisk treadmill walk) | decrease | 26-h iAUC | inactive healthy adults | - | reduced | #9 |
WALK5 (45-min sitting/5-min brisk treadmill walk) | decrease | 26-h iAUC | inactive healthy adults | - | reduced | #10 |
WALK8 (60-min sitting/8-min brisk treadmill walk) | decrease | 26-h iAUC | inactive healthy adults | - | reduced | #11 |
three activity-break conditions (WALK3, WALK5, WALK8) | decrease | 9-h mean glucose concentration | inactive healthy adults | - | decreased | #12 |
three activity-break conditions (WALK3, WALK5, WALK8) | decrease | 9-h tAUC | inactive healthy adults | - | decreased | #13 |
three activity-break conditions (WALK3, WALK5, WALK8) | decrease | 9-h iAUC | inactive healthy adults | - | decreased | #14 |
three walking-bout conditions (WALK3, WALK5, WALK8) | increase | glycemic metabolism | inactive, healthy adults | - | improved | #15 |
PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine whether interrupting prolonged sitting with three different walking-bout schedules improves glycemic metabolism relative to continuous prolonged sitting in sedentary adults. METHODS: In a randomized, crossover trial, 16 inactive healthy adults (7 men, 24 ± 3 yr old) completed four 26-h laboratory sessions, including 22.5 h in an energy expenditure (EE)-testing calorimeter chamber. The four 9-h intervention periods were as follows: 9-h uninterrupted sitting (SIT), 30-min sitting/3-min brisk (60% V˙O2max) treadmill walk (WALK3), 45-min sitting/5-min (WALK5), or 60-min sitting/8-min (WALK8). Coprimary outcomes included the difference in the mean interstitial glucose concentration, total area under the curve (tAUC), and incremental area under the curve (iAUC) for the entire 26 and 9 h (intervention period) during three activity-bout conditions compared with SIT. RESULTS: Compared with SIT, the 26-h mean glucose concentration was attenuated in WALK8 (Δmean -0.22 mmol·L [95% confidence interval = -0.43 to -0.001], P = 0.048) without adjustment for EE and attenuated in WALK3 (Δ-0.47 mmol·L [-0.75 to -0.10]), WALK5 (Δ-0.47 mmol·L [-0.83 to -0.10]), and WALK8 (Δ-0.53 mmol·L [-0.92 to -0.13]) after adjustment for EE (all P < 0.01). The 26-h tAUC was reduced in WALK3 (Δ-11.18 mmol·L per 26 h [-20.07 to -2.29]), WALK5 (2.12.67 mmol·L per 26 h [-22.54 to -2.79]), and WALK8 (Δ-13.85 mmol·L per 26 h [-24.60 to -3.10]) (all P < 0.01), as well as the iAUC (all P < 0.05), only after adjustment for EE. The 9-h mean glucose concentration, tAUC, and iAUC decreased in the three activity-break conditions regardless of EE adjustment (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: All three walking-bout conditions improved glycemic metabolism compared with SIT, independent of EE, in inactive, healthy adults.