ECSS Paris 2023: OP-MH42
INTRODUCTION: High sedentary behaviour (SB) associates with cardiovascular risk factors, which in turn associate with poorer perceived well-being. Therefore, reducing SB could improve well-being in adults with cardiovascular risk factors. However, evidence from interventional studies is scarce. To fill this gap, this randomised controlled trial investigated whether a six-month SB-reducing intervention affects perceived well-being among adults with cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS: Sixty-four adults with high accelerometer-measured SB (>10 h/day), overweight or obesity, physical inactivity, and metabolic syndrome (58 % women, 58 [SD 7] years old, SB 10 [1] h/day) were randomised to the intervention group (n=33) that aimed at reducing daily SB by 1 h for six months, or to the control group (n=31) that continued their usual activity behaviour. In the intervention group, the reduced SB was replaced by individually discussed non-exercise activities. All participants wore accelerometers connected to a mobile application throughout the study to monitor their daily SB and physical activity in relation to the individually set goals. Perceived well-being was measured using four questionnaires before, at the midpoint, and after the six-month intervention: RAND-36 (quality of life), PSQ (perceived stress), GHQ-12 (depressive symptoms), and workability score. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, the intervention group reduced SB by 40 min/day. Half of the reduced SB was replaced by light physical activity and standing, and half was replaced by moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. The vitality score in RAND-36 decreased in the control group and increased in the intervention group, and the difference was significant at three months (p=0.012) and near-significant at six months (p=0.079). PSQ-measured perceived stress increased in both groups (time p=0.033) without statistically significant differences between groups (p=0.143). CONCLUSION: A six-month intervention aimed at reducing daily SB by 1 h may improve perceived vitality among adults with metabolic syndrome, high SB, and physical inactivity. Therefore, reducing SB could be considered if fatigue or tiredness is a concern.
Read CV Jooa NorhaECSS Paris 2023: OP-MH42
INTRODUCTION: Physically active interruptions to prolonged sitting have beneficial effects on glucose and insulin metabolism, potentially through increased muscle activity. However, it remains unclear if specific movement patterns, such as standing up and moving, may be more effective. We examined the effects on glucose and insulin in those with type 2 diabetes (T2D) of prolonged sitting interrupted by standing, seated pedaling, and sit-to-stand transitions—each matched for total muscle activity METHODS: In a randomized crossover trial, 24 inactive overweight/obese adults with T2D (15 women, 61.3 ± 8.1 y) underwent four 6.5-h conditions on four separate days (with 3–14 days washout). Trial days included a 30-minute seated steady-state, followed by different one-hour bout conditions repeated six times and ending in 30 minutes of sitting. Conditions were uninterrupted sitting (control; SIT), sitting 30-min and standing 30-min (STAND), sitting plus 6-13-min seated pedaling (PEDAL), and sitting plus 2-7-min sit-to-stand transitions (TRANS). Standardized meals were consumed during each condition. Total areas under the curve (tAUCs) for glucose and insulin were compared between conditions using generalized linear mixed models. Participants’ total muscle activity for the active conditions was tailored to match the STAND muscle activity by modifying the duration of seated pedaling versus sitting and sit-to-stand transitions versus sitting within the one-hour bouts. RESULTS: Compared with SIT, both PEDAL and TRANS significantly attenuated tAUCs for glucose (SIT: tAUC mean 121.8 mmol [95% CI 112.9, 131.4] vs. PEDAL: 117.1 [108.6, 126.4] and TRANS: 116.9 [108.3,126.1]), and for insulin (SIT: tAUC 977.2 pmol [738.9,1292.6] vs. PEDAL: 772.9 [584.5, 1022.0] and TRANS: 773.9 [584.5 to 1024.8]). CONCLUSION: Interrupting prolonged sitting with brief bouts of seated pedaling or sit-to-stand transitions, but not with standing, can attenuate acute total areas under the curve for glucose and insulin responses in adults with T2D. These findings suggest that within periods of prolonged sitting, dynamic muscle activity, with either seated or upright posture, can be more effective than prolonged standing for reducing glucose and insulin responses.
Read CV Suvi LambergECSS Paris 2023: OP-MH42
INTRODUCTION: Physical activity is influenced by both individual and social environmental factors, and the use of urban green spaces (UGS) is closely related to health. However, urban population growth has led to an imbalance in the supply and demand of UGS, affecting the vulnerability of physical activity and health. This study evaluates the matching of UGS supply and demand and proposes green space compensation strategies to enhance residents health. METHODS: A physical activity vulnerability index was developed to assess the ability of physical activity and the environment to counteract external pressures at the street level. Taking old communities in Harbin as an example, indicators such as population density and green space quality were selected from three dimensions—exposure, sensitivity, and adaptability—to construct an evaluation system. ArcGIS was used to calculate the indicators. Based on the index, street vulnerability was classified into four categories (low, relatively low, relatively high, and high), and the two-step floating catchment area (2SFCA) method was used to evaluate UGS accessibility. RESULTS: Firstly, the northwestern part of the selected area has high accessibility to UGS, while residents in old communities in the central and southern parts have relatively high accessibility. Some areas in the northeastern suburbs, however, lack access to any services. Secondly, there are significant differences in accessibility among regions with varying levels of vulnerability (p < 0.001), with an overall trend of higher vulnerability in the northeast and lower vulnerability in the northwest. This indicates that regions with relatively high and high vulnerability are at a disadvantage in accessing UGS services. Areas with high vulnerability generally have higher population outflow rates and elderly population proportions compared to low-vulnerability areas. Finally, the community vulnerability index and UGS accessibility show significant spatial autocorrelation (p < 0.05, with Moran’s I value close to 1). CONCLUSION: The research findings indicate significant inequalities in the accessibility of UGS and the quality of green spaces in residential areas, leading to potential disparities in the physical activity benefits for residents. Residents of older neighborhoods face greater challenges in accessing well-equipped UGS, which may be a result of urban planning prioritizing short-term gains over the needs of residents. Future planning should prioritize increasing green spaces in areas lacking UGS, with a rational layout and diversified facilities to enhance residents physical activity and health levels. Meanwhile, the internal green space quality in low-vulnerability residential areas is generally lower, posing greater public health risks. It is recommended to prioritize the addition of UGS near these areas to ensure that different vulnerability groups equally benefit from the health-promoting services of UGS, thereby narrowing health disparities.
Read CV Bijun ZhangECSS Paris 2023: OP-MH42