Our second paper of today examined associations of total sitting time, TV-viewing and leisure-time computer use with cardiometabolic risk biomarkers in adults. This manuscript describes a population based cross-sectional study derived from the HUNT study in Norway.
The HUNT study measured in a sample 48,882 adults aged 20 years or older, amongst other outcomes, waist circumference, BMI, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, blood pressure, non-fasting glucose, gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT) and triglycerides. Adjusted multiple regression models were used to test for associations between these biomarkers and self-reported total sitting time, TV-viewing and leisure-time computer use.
In the whole sample, reporting total sitting time over 10 hours per day day was associated with poorer on all biomarkers, as compared to those individuals reporting a total sitting time of less than 4 hours per day. TV-viewing of more than 4 hours per day was associated with poorer BMI, waist circumference, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, GGT and triglycerides compared to TV-viewing of less than 1 hour per day. Leisure-time computer use of more than 1 hour per day was associated with poorer BMI, total cholesterol, diastolic blood pressure, GGT and triglycerides compared with those reporting no leisure-time computing.
The authors concluded that total sitting time, TV-viewing and leisure-time computer use are associated with poorer cardiometabolic risk profiles in adults. As such, reducing sedentary behaviour throughout the day and limiting TV-viewing and leisure-time computer use may have health benefits.
Chau JY, Grunseit A, Midthjell K, Holmen J, Holmen TL, Bauman AE, et al. Cross-sectional associations of total sitting and leisure screen time with cardiometabolic risk in adults. Results from the HUNT Study, Norway. J Sci Med Sport. Elsevier; 2014 Jan;17(1):78–84.