Effect of Breaks in Prolonged Sitting or Low-Volume High-Intensity Interval Exercise on Markers of Metabolic Syndrome in Adults With Excess Body Fat: A Crossover Trial

Abstract

Background: This study analyzed the effect of walking breaks or low-volume high-intensity interval exercise (LV-HIIE) on markers of metabolic syndrome relative to a day of prolonged sitting. Methods: Twenty-five adults with excess body fat participated in this crossover trial: (1) 10-hour sitting day (SIT), (2) LV-HIIE followed by a sitting day (EX+SIT), and (3) sitting day with 5-minute walking breaks for every 20 minutes (SIT+WB). Glucose and blood pressure (BP) were measured before and 1 hour after 4 meals and 2 hours after lunch. Triglycerides were measured at baseline, 2, and 3.5 hours after lunch. Generalized mixed models were used to identify differences in the area under the curve (AUC) of BP and incremental AUC (iAUC) of glucose and triglycerides among the sessions. Results: iAUC-glucose was lower in SIT+WB than SIT (β = −35.3 mg/dL·10 h; 95% confidence interval, −52.5 to −8.2). AUC-diastolic BP was lower in SIT+WB than SIT (β = −14.1 mm Hg·10 h; 95% confidence interval, −26.5 to −1.6) and EX+SIT (β = −14.5 mm Hg·10 h; 95% confidence interval, −26.9 to −2.1). There were no differences in triglycerides and systolic BP levels among the sessions. Conclusion: Adults with excess body fat present lower glucose and diastolic BP during a day with breaks in sitting time compared with a prolonged sitting day with or without an LV-HIIE session.

Acute effects of sedentary breaks on vascular health in adults at risk for type 2 diabetes: A systematic review

“…33,34,43,45,52 Conversely, light and moderate intensity walking resulted in significant reductions in SBP in n=5/9 39,41,46,51,52 and n=2/3 36,46,49 of the included studies, respectively. Significant reductions in DBP were observed in n=4/8 39,41,42,46 studies that evaluated light intensity walking and n=2/3 46,49 of those that examined moderate intensity walking. There were no clear patterns with respect to the effect of SB break type on MAP or HR, with exception that moderate walking and resistance training significantly increased average HR over the measurement period.…”

“…33,34,[46][47][48][49]51,52,36,[39][40][41][42][43][44][45] Notably, few studies (n=3) were specifically powered for any of the included vascular outcomes. 36,38,42 Two studies were powered to evaluate the effects of the intervention on BP 36,42 and one study was powered to detect changes in superficial femoral artery FMD. 38 Although all studies included at least one vascular outcome, most also included glycemic control (e.g., post prandial glucose) as a primary (n=10) 33,36,39,[41][42][43][44]46,51,52 or secondary (n=1) 48 outcome.…”

“…36,38,42 Two studies were powered to evaluate the effects of the intervention on BP 36,42 and one study was powered to detect changes in superficial femoral artery FMD. 38 Although all studies included at least one vascular outcome, most also included glycemic control (e.g., post prandial glucose) as a primary (n=10) 33,36,39,[41][42][43][44]46,51,52 or secondary (n=1) 48 outcome. Popliteal and brachial artery FMD, calf circumference, cerebrovascular conductance, cerebrovascular CO 2 reactivity, epinephrine, nitrates/nitrates, endothelin-1, intracellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 were each only included in a single study and are therefore not reported on further.…”

“…Future rigorously designed studies should focus on individuals who are most vulnerable to the effects of SB, including diverse groups of older adults, office workers, and those with T2D and other risk factors for cardiovascular disease, as these individuals tend to be highly sedentary and at greatest risk of poor health outcomes. 43 Standing (2 min every 20 min) -Kerr et al, 2017 43 Standing (10 min every 60 min) -Kruse et al, 2018 45 Standing (10 min every 60 min) -Yates et al, 2020 51 Standing (5 min every 30 min) -Barone Gibbs et al, 2017 34 Standing (30 min every 30 min) -Zeigler et al, 2016 52 Standing (variable, 10-30 min about every 60 min) Kerr et al, 2017 43 Light walking (2 min every 60 min) -Bailey et al, 2015 33 Light walking (2 min every 20 min) -Wennberg et al, 2016 48 Light walking (3 min every 30 min) -Freire et al, 2019 42 Light walking (5 min every 20 min) -Zeigler et al, 2016 52 Light walking (variable, 10-30 min about every 60 min) Larsen et al, 2014 46 Light walking (2 min every 20 min) Dempsey et al, 2016 41 Light walking (3 min every 30 min) Yates et al, 2020 51 Light walking (5 min every 30 min) Champion et al, 2018 39 Light walking (20 min every 60 min) Kruse et al, 2018 45 Light intensity desk pedaling (10 min every 60 min) -Zeigler et al, 2016 52 Cycling (variable, 10-30 min about every 60 min) Bhammar et al, 2017 36 Moderate walking (2 min every 20 min) -Larsen et al, 2014 46 Moderate walking (2 min every 20 min) Wheeler et al, 2019b 49 Moderate walking (30 min continuous bout + 3 min every 30 min) Bhammar et al, 2017 36 Vigorous walking (2 min every 60 min) -Kowalsky et al, 2019 44 Resistance exercises (variable, 1.3-2.6 min every 60 min) -Climie et al, 2018 40 Resistance exercises (3 min every 30 min) -Dempsey et al, 2016 41 Resistance exercises (3 min every 30 min) Puig-Ribera et al, 2015 47 Community-based intervention -DBP 42 Light walking (5 min every 20 min) Larsen et al, 2014 46 Light walking (2 min every 20 min) Dempsey et al, 2016 41 Light walking (3 min every 30 min) Kruse e...…”

The couch potato syndrome: A major concern in Covid 19 pandemic

“…A common description of a sedentary person would be someone who spends the majority of the day either sitting or lying down -activities that require an energy expenditure of 1.0 -1.5 basal metabolic rate every day. [1][2][3] Sedentary behavior and sitting for long periods have been associated with a number of health concerns viz; obesity, increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist and abnormal cholesterol levels, metabolic syndrome, etc. Prolonged periods of sitting also seem to increase the risk of death from cardiovascular disease, cancer, and stroke with sitting now being called the "new smoking".…”