The Association of Daily Physical Activity Behaviors with Visceral Fat

Effects of Standing after a Meal on Glucose Metabolism and Energy Expenditure

In the past decade, university students have become more sedentary. A sedentary lifestyle is associated with an increased risk of obesity and cardiovascular disease. Methods that decrease sedentary lifestyles, such as the use of standing desks to increase physical activity, have been extensively examined. However, the effects of postprandial standing and sitting on energy metabolism have not yet been compared. Therefore, the present study investigated the effects of standing after a meal on energy expenditure and glucose metabolism. Ten males participated in the present study. The experiment was initiated with 300 g of rice ingested as a carbohydrate load. The subjects maintained a standing or sitting position for 120 min after the meal. Energy expenditure was calculated from VO2 and VCO2 using the indirect calorimetry method. Glucose metabolism was assessed by measuring blood glucose levels and the exogenous glucose metabolic rate. Energy expenditure through standing after eating was approximately 0.16 ± 0.08 kcal/min higher than that through sitting. Blood glucose dynamics did not significantly differ between the standing and sitting positions. Furthermore, no significant differences were observed in the dynamics of the exogenous glucose metabolic rate between the standing and sitting positions. Standing for 2 h after a meal increased energy expenditure by 10.7 ± 4.6% without affecting glucose metabolism.

Copeptin is associated with microalbuminuria and renal function in the general Japanese population

An association between copeptin (precursor molecule of arginine vasopressin) and markers for renal function has been reported, but data on the Japanese population has been limited. In this study, we investigated whether elevated copeptin levels are associated with microalbuminuria and renal dysfunction in the general Japanese population. A total of 1,262 participants (842 female and 420 male) were enrolled. Multiple regression analysis was performed to assess the association of copeptin levels (logarithm) with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and the urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) after adjusting for age, BMI, and lifestyle variables. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using logistic regression methods in which chronic kidney disease (CKD) was the dependent variable. The copeptin levels differed significantly with sex, but were not found to be related to age or the span of time from preceding meal to blood sampling. In female participants, copeptin level was negatively correlated with eGFR (beta = -0.100, p-value = 0.006) and positively correlated with UACR (beta = 0.099, p-value = 0.003). In male participants, a negative correlation (beta = -0.140, p-value = 0.008) was observed for eGFR. In both females and males, those with high copeptin levels had more than double the ORs of CKD (OR = 2.1-2.9) adjusted for CKD-related factors. The present study found elevated copeptin levels to be associated with renal function loss in the Japanese population and microalbuminuria in female. Moreover, it was evident that high copeptin levels are associated with CKD. These results suggest that copeptin could be considered a marker of renal function.

Abdominal Obesity in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Its Relationship with Diet, Physical Activity and Insulin Resistance: A Pilot Study

Abdominal obesity is a common feature of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and it is known to exacerbate insulin resistance (IR). Improper dietary and physical activity patterns are crucial environmental factors involved in the development of obesity, and they can significantly influence the central deposition of adipose tissue. Therefore, in this cross-sectional study, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between abdominal adiposity (measured by VAT (visceral adipose tissue), SAT (subcutaneous adipose tissue), VAT/SAT ratio (visceral to subcutaneous fat ratio), and WHR (waist-to-hip ratio)) and the prevalence and odds ratios of IR (measured by the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), the homeostatic model assessment-adiponectin (HOMA-AD) and leptin to adiponectin ratio (L/A ratio)) in 56 PCOS women. Furthermore, we investigated the relationship between these abdominal obesity indices and diet and physical activity. An original food frequency questionnaire and Actigraph GT3X-BT were used to assess adherence to the diet recommended in IR and the level of physical activity, respectively. We observed a higher prevalence of IR among women with higher VAT, VAT/SAT, and WHR values compared to women with normal values of those abdominal obesity indices. Moreover, VAT/SAT seemed to be the best predictor of IR measured by HOMA-IR and HOMA-AD. However, VAT appeared to be the best and strongest predictor of IR measured by the L/A ratio. We also observed that higher adherence to the diet recommended in IR and higher levels of vigorous physical activity were associated with lower values of central fat accumulation indices and a greater chance of their normal values. Our findings indicate that central obesity increases the odds of IR and supports the beneficial role of diet and physical activity in the management of abdominal obesity in PCOS women.

Habitual Physical Activity and Dietary Profiles in Older Japanese Males with Normal-Weight Obesity

Normal-weight obesity is defined as having high body fat but a normal body mass index (BMI). This study examined whether there are differences in habitual physical activity and diet between individuals with normal-weight obesity and obese or non-obesity. This study included 143 males aged 65-75 years, and they were classified into the following three groups according to BMI and visceral fat area (VFA): obese group (n = 27 (BMI: ≥25 kg/m² and VFA: ≥100 cm²)), normal-weight obese group (n = 35 (BMI: <25 kg/m² and VFA: ≥100 cm²)) and non-obese group (n = 81 (BMI: <25 kg/m² and VFA < 100 cm²)). Lowered high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and elevated triglyceride and alanine transaminase were observed in the normal-weight obese group than in the non-obese group (all for p ≤ 0.04, effect size ≥ 0.50). No differences were found in physical activity and dietary habits between non-obese and normal-weight obese groups (all for p > 0.05). Although impaired lipid and liver function parameters were observed in older males with normal-weight obesity compared with older males with non-obesity, physical activity and dietary profiles in themselves were not shown these differences in the present study.

The Associations of Weekend Warrior Activity Patterns With the Visceral Adiposity Index in US Adults: Repeated Cross-sectional Study

BACKGROUND

According to previous reports, obesity especially visceral fat has become an important public health problem, causing an estimation of 20.5 disability-adjusted life years per 1000 inhabitants. Those who exercised for 1 or 2 days per week and reached the recommended 150 minutes of moderate physical activity (PA) per week have been defined as "weekend warriors" (WWs). Although the benefits of PA in suppressing obesity have been widely studied, the association of WWs with the Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI) and the difference between WW activity and regular PA are yet to be explored.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to explore the association between WW activity and other PA patterns with VAI in US adults.

METHODS

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2016 data set was used, and the analytic sample was limited to adults 20 years and older who had complete information about VAI, PA patterns, and other covariates, including demographic characteristics, behavioral factors, and disease conditions. Participants' characteristics in different PA pattern groups were tested using the Rao and Scott adjusted χ² test and ANOVA. Univariate and multivariate stepped linear regression models were then used to explore the association between the PA pattern and VAI. Finally, stratified analyses and interaction effects were conducted to investigate whether the association was stable among subgroups.

RESULTS

The final sample included 9642 adults 20 years or older, which is representative of 158.1 million noninstitutionalized US adults, with 52.15% (n=5169) being male and 70.8% (n=4443) being non-Hispanic White. Gender, age group, race, education level, income level, marital status, smoking status, alcoholism, VAI, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes were all correlated with the PA pattern, but no relationship between hypertension and PA pattern was observed. After adjusting for demographic covariates, smoking status, alcoholism, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and hypertension, WW and regularly active adults had a β of .307 (95% CI -0.611 to -0.003) and .354 (95% CI -0.467 to -0.241), respectively, for reduced VAI when compared with inactive adults, but no significant effect of lowering VAI (β=-.132, 95% CI -0.282 to 0.018) was observed in insufficiently active adults when compared with inactive adults. Besides, no significant difference was exhibited between WW adults and regularly active adults (β=.047, 95% CI -0.258 to 0.352), suggesting WW adults had the same benefit of decreasing VAI as regularly active adults. Stratified analyses results exhibited that WW activity was related to reduced VAI in female adults aged 20-44 years who were non-Hispanic Black, other, or multiracial; high school or General Educational Development education; and never married, and the association between PA pattern and VAI remained stable in all demographic subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with inactive adults, WWs could reduce VAI, and there was no significant difference between WWs and regular active adults in decreasing VAI. Our study provides compelling evidence of the beneficial effect of WW activity on visceral obesity.

Association between Sedentary Time and Falls among Middle-Aged Women in Japan

There are many reports on the risk of falls in older adults but none regarding the risk among middle-aged people. We aimed to determine fall risk factors among middle-aged women. The participants comprised 1421 women aged 40 to 64 years; anthropometric and other measurements were obtained, and lifestyle factors were examined using a self-administered questionnaire. The participants were categorized into two groups (No-fall and Fall/Almost-fall) based on their questionnaire responses. The No-fall and Fall/Almost-fall groups comprised 1114 and 307 participants, respectively. Body mass index, abdominal circumference measurements, and prevalence of dyslipidemia were significantly higher in the Fall/Almost-fall group. Additionally, those in the Fall/Almost-fall group had a shorter two-step test, experienced difficulty performing the 40 cm single-leg sit-to-stand test, and had higher 25-question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale (GLFS-25) scores than those in the No-fall group. The results of the adjusted logistic regression analysis indicated that physical activity, higher GLFS-25 scores, and sedentary time of more than seven hours were all risk factors for falling or almost falling. Longer sedentary time is a new risk factor for falls among middle-aged women. It is necessary for people to be concerned with their sedentary behavior, such as by reducing or interrupting continuous sedentary time.

Association of visceral fat area with pre-frailty in Japanese community-dwelling older adults: a cross-sectional study

Background

Screening and intervention in pre-frailty can help prevent or delay frailty among older adults. Being overweight has shown associated with pre-frailty, and overweight is highly prevalent among community-dwelling older adults during COVID-19. However, the impact of visceral fat accumulation remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the association between visceral fat area and pre-frailty in community-dwelling older adults.

Methods

The participants of this study included community-dwelling older adults from three elderly welfare centers. The frailty phenotype was assessed using the frailty screening index. The body composition was measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis.

Results

A total of 214 community-dwelling older adults completed the questionnaire and measurements. After excluding 16 frail participants, 149 (75.3%) were pre-frailty. The mean age of participants was 75.4 ± 5.4 years, and 69.7% (138) of participants were women. There were 54 (27.3%) participants with high visceral fat area. The multivariable model showed that participants with high visceral fat area were at increased risk for pre-frailty (adjusted OR, 3.15; 95% CI, 1.26 − 7.87; P = 0.014), even after adjusted for age, sex, health status, and impact of COVID-19 pandemic.

Conclusions

This study suggests that the association between visceral fat accumulation and pre-frailty may help to identify a new target for prevention. Further longitudinal studies are needed to determine their mechanisms in older adults.

Non-linear Associations Between Visceral Adiposity Index and Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases: Results From the NHANES (1999–2018)

Objective

To investigate associations between visceral adiposity index (VAI) and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (CCDs) in the American population from 1999 to 2018.

Methods

Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1998–2018) were analyzed in this study. Specifically, VAI scores were calculated using sex-specific equations that incorporate body mass index, waist circumference (WC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides (TG), and cholesterol. Weighted logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the relationship between VAI tertile and increased risk of CCDs. Restricted cubic splines were used to evaluate the non-linear relationship between VAI and CCDs, such as heart failure, angina, heart attack, stroke, hypertension, and coronary heart disease. Sensitivity analysis was conducted, using VAI quartiles as independent variables.

Results

A total of 22,622 subjects aged over 20 years were included. In the fully adjusted model after controlling for covariates, the third VAI tertile was more strongly associated with CCDs than the first VAI tertile, with odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) values for angina of 2.86, 1.68–4.85; heart attack, 1.75, 1.14–2.69; stroke, 2.01, 1.23–3.26; hypertension, 2.28, 1.86–2.78; and coronary heart disease, 1.78, 1.32–2.41; but there was no significant association with heart failure (p &gt; 0.05). Restricted cubic splines revealed parabolic relationships between VAI score and angina (p for non-linear = 0.03), coronary heart disease (p for non-linear = 0.01), and hypertension (p for non-linear &lt; 0.001). Sensitivity analysis indicated that the fourth VAI quartile was more strongly associated with an increased risk of angina (OR = 2.92, 95% CI, 1.49–5.69), hypertension (OR = 2.37, 95% CI, 1.90–2.97), heart attack (OR = 1.77, 95% CI, 1.09–2.88), and coronary heart disease (OR = 1.89, 95% CI, 1.24–2.86) than the first VAI quartile. VAI had superior predictive power for prevalent CCDs than other independent indicators (p &lt; 0.05).

Conclusion

Visceral adiposity index score is positively correlated with angina, heart attack, stroke, hypertension, and coronary heart disease, but not heart failure, and the relationships between VAI score and angina, hypertension, and coronary heart disease are non-linear.

Association between Objectively Measured Sedentary Behaviour and Sleep Quality in Japanese Adults: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study

The association between sedentary behaviour and sleep quality (SQ) remains unclear, partly due to the limited methodology for assessing sedentary time and the influence of obesity. This study aimed to examine the association between objectively measured sedentary time and poor SQ, as well as the association of visceral fat accumulation. This cross-sectional study used health check-up data obtained from 721 Japanese adults. Sedentary time and physical activity were measured using an accelerometer for ≥7 days, with ≥10 measurement hours per day. Poor SQ was determined by a Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score of ≥ 6. Visceral fat was measured using the abdominal bioimpedance method. A logistic regression model was used to analyse the association between sedentary time and SQ. We found that higher sedentary time was associated with poorer SQ. This association remained significant after adjustment for several covariates, including visceral fat. Compared with the lowest tertile of sedentary time, the second and highest tertile had a significantly higher OR of poor SQ (Tertile 2: OR = 2.06 [95% CI 1.14,3,73]; Tertile 3: OR = 2.76 [95% CI 1.49, 5.11]). These results suggest that managing sedentary time itself might contribute to improving SQ.

Prolonged sedentary time under the state of emergency during the first wave of coronavirus disease 2019: Assessing the impact of work environment in Japan

OBJECTIVES

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak and the resulting state of emergency have restricted work environments, which may contribute to increased duration of sedentary behaviors. This study investigated the self-reported sedentary time of Japanese workers during and after the first state of emergency (April 7 to May 25, 2020) and examined differences in sedentary time after starting work from home and according to job type.

METHODS

We used cross-sectional data from the Japan COVID-19 and Society Internet Survey, a web-based questionnaire survey conducted from August to September 2020 (n = 11,623; age range 15-79 years; 63.6% male). Prolonged sedentary time was calculated by subtracting the sedentary time after the state of emergency (defined as the normal sedentary time) from that during the emergency, with adjustments using inverse probability weighting for being a respondent in an internet survey.

RESULTS

An increase in sedentary time of at least 2 hours was reported by 12.8% of respondents who started working from home during the state of emergency, including 9.7% of salespersons and 7.7% of desk workers. After adjusting for potential confounders, the multivariate-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for a prolonged sedentary time ≥2 hours was significantly higher in respondents who started to work from home (OR: 2.14, 95% confidence interval: 1.78-2.57), and certain job types (desk workers; OR: 1.56, 95% CI: 1.27-1.91, salespersons; OR: 2.03, 95% CI: 1.64-2.51).

CONCLUSIONS

Working from home and non-physical work environments might be important predictors of prolonged sedentary time.