Descriptive epidemiology of changes in objectively measured sedentary behaviour and physical activity: six-year follow-up of the EPIC-Norfolk cohort

Abstract

BackgroundSedentary time increases and total physical activity decreases with age. The magnitude and correlates of changes in sedentary time, light-intensity physical activity (LPA), moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA), and overall physical activity remain unclear. We quantified these changes and identified their individual and sociodemographic correlates.MethodsWe used data from 1259 adults (67.8 ± 6.9 years; 41.9% women) who participated in the EPIC-Norfolk Study. Activity was assessed at baseline (2004–2011) and follow-up (2012–2016) for 7 days using accelerometers. Potential correlates of change were specified a priori. We used unadjusted and adjusted sex-stratified linear regressions to identify correlates of change.ResultsOnly 3.7% of adults met the current MVPA recommendations. Sedentary time increased by 3.0 min/day/year (SD = 12.3). LPA, MVPA, and overall PA decreased by 1.7 min/day/year (SD = 5.4), 3.0 min/day/year (SD = 6.0), and 8.8 cpm/year (SD = 18.8), respectively. Correlates of greater rates of increase in sedentary time included older age and higher BMI in men, and older age, higher BMI, smoking, and urban dwelling in women. Correlates of greater rates of decrease in physical activity included older age, higher BMI, living alone, depression, car use, and/or fair/poor self-rated health in men, and older age, higher BMI, depression, smoking, and/or urban dwelling in women (e.g. depressed women had a 1.0 min/day/year greater rate of decline in MVPA than non-depressed women, 95% CI -1.8, − 0.2).ConclusionsMost (> 95%) adults are insufficiently active. Sedentary time increases and LPA, MVPA and overall physical activity decreases over time, with more pronounced rates of change observed in specific sub-groups (e.g. among older and depressed adults). To promote active living, the correlates of these changes should be considered in future interventions.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12966-018-0746-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Sociodemographic and lifestyle-related risk factors for identifying vulnerable groups for type 2 diabetes: a narrative review with emphasis on data from Europe

“…In 2016, based on a pooled analysis of 358 population-based surveys with 1.9 million participants across 168 countries, the global age-standardized prevalence of insufficient physical activity was 27.5%, with even higher prevalence in women and high-income countries [48]. Recent data based on objectively measured physical activity and sedentary behaviors showed that the vast majority (> 95%) of the adults in the EPIC-Norfolk Study (1259 participants; age: 49-91 years) were insufficiently active, with increasing sedentary time and decreasing total, light-and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity over time [49]. In this study, correlates of higher rates of the increase in sedentary time and the decrease in physical activity included both higher BMI and older age in men and women [49].…”

“…Recent data based on objectively measured physical activity and sedentary behaviors showed that the vast majority (> 95%) of the adults in the EPIC-Norfolk Study (1259 participants; age: 49-91 years) were insufficiently active, with increasing sedentary time and decreasing total, light-and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity over time [49]. In this study, correlates of higher rates of the increase in sedentary time and the decrease in physical activity included both higher BMI and older age in men and women [49]. Combating such alarming trends is an important component of T2DM prevention, particularly in individuals at high T2DM risk [47].…”

Association of commuting mode with dyslipidemia and its components after accounting for air pollution in the working population of Beijing, China

“…While the prevalence of dyslipidemia has increased [1], there has been a decrease in the level of physical activity and an increase in sedentary time [2, 3]. Physical inactivity increases the risk for developing many chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes [4, 5], cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) [6, 7] and some cancers [8].…”

Correlates of change in accelerometer-assessed total sedentary time and prolonged sedentary bouts among older English adults: results from five-year follow-up in the EPIC-Norfolk cohort

“…Studies of sociodemographic correlates have also been neglected, despite the fact they may help us specify who we might most usefully target. This type of studies has been limited by mostly cross-sectional study designs and the use of self-reported measures of sedentary time [12][13][14][15][16][17], with only a handful of exceptions [18][19][20]. Cross-sectional socio-demographic correlates of increased sedentary time include older age, male sex, retirement, lower educational attainment, and poorer self-rated health.…”