Introduction To examine the association between sedentary behavior (SB), cardiometabolic risk factors, and self-reported physical function by level of moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Methods Cross-sectional analysis was completed on 1, 914 older adults aged ≥65 years from the 2003–2006 U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). MVPA and SB were derived from Actigraph accelerometers worn for one week. MVPA was categorized as sufficient to meet the current U.S. guidelines (≥150 minutes/week) or not; SB was split into quartiles. Various biomarkers were examined in laboratory analyses and physical exams, and the number of functional limitations was self-reported. Statistical interaction between SB and MVPA on the biomarker associations was the primary analysis, followed by an examination of their independent associations with relevant covariate adjustment. Results Average SB was 9.4±2.3 hours/day (mean ± SD) and approximately 35% were classified as sufficiently active. Overall, no significant meaningful statistical interactions were found between SB and MVPA for any of the outcomes; however, strong independent positive associations were found between SB and weight (p<0.01), BMI (p<0.01), waist circumference (p<0.01), C-reactive protein (CRP) (p<0.01), plasma glucose (p=0.04), and number of functional limitations (p<0.01) after adjustment for MVPA. Similarly, MVPA was negatively associated with weight (p=0.01), BMI (p<0.01), waist circumference (p<0.01), diastolic blood pressure (p=0.04), CRP (p<0.01), and number of functional limitations (p<0.01) after adjustment for SB. Conclusion The results suggest that sufficient MVPA did not ameliorate the negative associations between SB and cardiometabolic risk factors or functional limitations in the current sample and that there was independence on a multiplicative scale in their associations with the outcomes examined. Thus, older adults may benefit from the joint prescription to accumulate adequate MVPA and avoid prolonged sitting.

This study provides further evidence for the association between SB and physical function and describes where older adults are spending their sedentary time. This information can be used in the design of future intervention to reduce sedentary time and improve function in older adults.

Purpose To examine the relationships between physical activity (PA), social participation and health-related quality of life (HQOL) in older, long-term colorectal cancer survivors. Methods Male and female colorectal cancer survivors (n=1768), aged ≥ 65 yrs and ≥5 yrs post-diagnosis, completed surveys on their current PA, social participation, HQOL, health history and relevant covariates. ANCOVA was used to evaluate the cross-sectional relationship between PA and social participation with the SF-36 subscales, as well as the physical component summary score (PCS) and mental health component summary score (MCS). Results The final analytic sample (n= 832) was 81.5 ± 5.8 yrs and 8.2 ±1.7 yrs post-diagnosis (mean±SD). Meeting the current recommendation of 150 min/wk of PA was associated with higher PCS (p=<0.001) but not MCS (p=0.30). Engaging in any social participation, vs. none, was associated with MCS (p=0.003), but not PCS (p=0.13). There was a dose-response relationship between moderate-vigorous intensity PA and PCS (ptrend =<0.001). Light intensity PA was not associated with either summary score after adjustment for moderate-vigorous PA (p>0.05), but in survivors performing no higher intensity PA, it was associated with both (p<0.01, p=0.02, respectively). Participants reporting greater amounts of both planned exercise and non-exercise PA had significantly higher PCS (ptrend=<0.01, ptrend <0.01, respectively). Individuals participating in greater weekly hours of social participation had higher PCS and MCS (ptrend =<0.05) than those participating in less. Conclusions Among older, long-term colorectal cancer survivors, PA is related to their physical health, while social participation is predominantly related to their mental health. Implications for cancer survivors Older colorectal cancer survivors who participate socially and are engaged in PA, even non-exercise and light intensity activities, have higher levels of physical and mental health.

The 2003–2004 and 2005–2006 cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were among the first population-level studies to incorporate objectively measured physical activity and sedentary behavior, allowing for greater understanding of these behaviors. However, there has yet to be a comprehensive examination of these data in cancer survivors, including short- and long-term survivors of all cancer types. Therefore, the purpose of this analysis was to use these data to describe activity behaviors in short- and long-term cancer survivors of various types. A secondary aim was to compare activity patterns of cancer survivors to that of the general population. Cancer survivors (n = 508) and age-matched individuals not diagnosed with cancer (n = 1,016) were identified from a subsample of adults with activity measured by accelerometer. Physical activity and sedentary behavior were summarized across cancer type and demographics; multivariate regression was used to evaluate differences between survivors and those not diagnosed with cancer. On average, cancer survivors were 61.4 (95% CI: 59.6, 63.2) years of age; 57% were female. Physical activity and sedentary behavior patterns varied by cancer diagnosis, demographic variables, and time since diagnosis. Survivors performed 307 min/day of light-intensity physical activity (95% CI: 295, 319), 16 min/day of moderate-vigorous intensity activity (95% CI: 14, 17); only 8% met physical activity recommendations. These individuals also reported 519 (CI: 506, 532) minutes of sedentary time, with 86 (CI: 84, 88) breaks in sedentary behavior per day. Compared to non-cancer survivors, after adjustment for potential confounders, survivors performed less light-intensity activity (P = 0.01), were more sedentary (P = 0.01), and took fewer breaks in sedentary time (P = 0.04), though there were no differences in any other activity variables. These results suggest that cancer survivors are insufficiently active. Relative to adults of similar age not diagnosed with cancer, they engage in more sedentary time with fewer breaks. As such, sedentary behavior and light-intensity activity may be important intervention targets, particularly for those for whom moderate-to-vigorous activity is not well accepted.