Is Being Physically Active Enough to Be Metabolically Healthy? The Key Role of Sedentary Behavior

Impact of physical activities, sedentarism, and sleep on depression and psychological distress-prospective findings of the Canadian longitudinal study on aging

BACKGROUND

The interrelation of physical activity, sedentarism, and sleep concerning the onset and persistence of depression is underexplored. This study examines the joint effect of time spent in these activities on clinically relevant depressive symptoms (CRDS). It also examines the influence of history of depressive disorder and whether results extend to serious psychological distress (SPD).

METHODS

Longitudinal data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, including 25,665 middle-aged and older (45-85 years) people, were used. Self-reported questionnaires were used for time spent walking, moderate physical activity (MPA), vigorous physical activity (VPA), sitting, and sleep. CRDS and SPD were assessed with the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale and the Kessler Psychological Distress scale, respectively. Logistic regression models, adjusted for covariates, estimated the association between activities and mental health outcomes.

RESULTS

At baseline, 15 % experienced CRDS, and 11 % SPD. Those with low activity patterns (high sitting levels, low levels of walking, MPA, VPA, and short sleep) were more likely to develop CRDS and to retain it than those with medium-high activity patterns. These patterns mostly also applied to SPD. Among those with history of depression, sedentary behavior and sleep were less strongly related to CRDS, but walking, MPA and VPA were equally strongly related.

CONCLUSIONS

Those with low activity patterns (high levels of sitting, little time spent in physical activities) had the worst mental health outcomes, while participants with higher activity level are less likely to continue or develop CRDS and SPD. Short sleep should be targeted for both mental conditions.

Joint association of sedentary behavior and physical activity domains with depression in Korean adults: Cross-sectional study combining four biennial surveys (2016-2022)

Although the increased prevalence of sedentary behavior and insufficient physical activity constitutes a global public health concern, there is limited research on their effects on mental health. We investigated the combined association of sedentary behavior (daily sitting or reclining ≥10 h/day) and physical activity domains (evaluated using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire, including occupational physical activity, leisure-time physical activity, and transportation-related physical activity) with depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9, cutoff score: 10). This cross-sectional study utilized biennial data of 21,416 adults (age >20 years) from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey waves 7-9 (2016-2022). Joint associations were explored by combining sedentary behavior and each physical activity domain into four levels. Sedentary behavior and occupational physical activity increased the risk of depression, leisure-time physical activity decreased the risk only in men, and transportation-related physical activity showed no significant association. Logistic regression each physical activity domain revealed, for men and women, a significantly higher risk of depression in the sedentary behavior (+)/occupational physical activity (+) group than in the sedentary behavior (-)/occupational physical activity (-) group (odds ratio: 3.05 and 2.66, respectively). The sedentary-behavior (+)/leisure-time physical-activity (-) group showed a significantly higher risk of depression than the sedentary behavior (-)/leisure-time physical activity (+) group (odds ratio: 2.50 and 2.14), and sedentary behavior (+)/transportation-related physical activity (-) group also showed a significantly higher risk of depression compared to the sedentary behavior (-)/transportation-related physical activity (+) group (odds ratio: 1.83 and 1.61). With concurrent exposure to sedentary behavior, the occupational physical activity and lack of leisure time and transportation-related physical activity synergistically increased the risk of depression. Encouraging leisure-time physical activity, minimizing rigorous occupational physical activity, and reducing sedentary behavior may reduce depressive symptoms, and research into specific domains of sedentary behavior and the quantity and quality of transportation-related physical activity is needed.

Effects of physical activity and sedentary time on depression, anxiety and well-being: a bidirectional Mendelian randomisation study

BACKGROUND

Mental health conditions represent one of the major groups of non-transmissible diseases. Physical activity (PA) and sedentary time (ST) have been shown to affect mental health outcomes in opposite directions. In this study, we use accelerometery-derived measures of PA and ST from the UK Biobank (UKB) and depression, anxiety and well-being data from the UKB mental health questionnaire as well as published summary statistics to explore the causal associations between these phenotypes.

METHODS

We used MRlap to test if objectively measured PA and ST associate with mental health outcomes using UKB data and summary statistics from published genome-wide association studies. We also tested for bidirectional associations. We performed sex stratified as well as sensitivity analyses.

RESULTS

Genetically instrumented higher PA was associated with lower odds of depression (OR = 0.92; 95% CI: 0.88, 0.97) and depression severity (beta =  - 0.11; 95% CI: - 0.18, - 0.04), Genetically instrumented higher ST was associated higher odds of anxiety (OR = 2.59; 95% CI: 1.10, 4.60). PA was associated with higher well-being (beta = 0.11, 95% CI: 0.04; 0.18) and ST with lower well-being (beta =  - 0.18; 95% CI: - 0.32, - 0.03). Similar findings were observed when stratifying by sex. There was evidence for a bidirectional relationship, with higher genetic liability to depression associated with lower PA (beta =  - 0.25, 95% CI: - 0.42; - 0.08) and higher well-being associated with higher PA (beta = 0.15; 95% CI: 0.05, 0.25).

CONCLUSIONS

We have demonstrated the bidirectional effects of both PA and ST on a range of mental health outcomes using objectively measured predictors and MR methods for causal inference. Our findings support a causal role for PA and ST in the development of mental health problems and in affecting well-being.

Supervised Exercise in Water: Is It a Viable Alternative in Overweight/Obese People with or without Type 2 Diabetes? A Pilot Study

The study of the effects of a water-based exercise program in overweight/obese people with or without type 2 diabetes is a topic of relatively recent interest. This type of exercise presents some advantages in reducing the risk of injury or trauma, and it can be a valuable therapeutic card to play for sedentary or physically inactive patients who have chronic metabolic diseases. This work aims to make a contribution showing the effects of a water-based exercise intervention, supervised by graduates in sports sciences, in a group of overweight/obese people with or without type 2 diabetes. In total, 93 adults (age 60.59 ± 10.44 years), including 72 women (age 60.19 ± 10.97 years) and 21 men (age 61.95 ± 8.48 years), were recruited to follow a water-based exercise program (2 sessions/week, for 12 weeks) at the C.U.R.I.A.Mo. Healthy Lifestyle Institute of Perugia University. Results showed an improvement in body mass index (−0.90 ± 1.56, p = 0.001), waist circumference (−4.32 ± 6.03, p < 0.001), and systolic (−7.78 ± 13.37, p = 0.001) and diastolic (−6.30 ± 10.91, p = 0.001) blood pressure. The supervised water-based intervention was useful in managing patients with metabolic diseases who often present with other health impairments, such as musculoskeletal problems or cardiovascular or rheumatic disease that could contraindicate gym-based exercise.

Brain system integration and message consistent health behavior change

OBJECTIVE

Modifiable behaviors, including physical activity and sedentary behavior, are important determinants of health, and messages are important tools for influencing these behaviors. Functional neuroimaging research suggests that activity in regions of the brain's default mode and salience systems are independently associated with attending to health promoting messages. However, it remains unclear how these brain systems interact during exposure to persuasive messages and how this interaction relates to subsequent behavior change. Here, we examine how between-person differences in the relative integration between default mode and salience systems while viewing health messages relates to changes in health behavior.

METHOD

Using wrist-worn accelerometers, we logged physical activity in 150 participants (mean age = 33.17 years, 64% women; 43% Black, 37% white, 7% Asian, 5% Hispanic, and 8% other) continuously for an average of 10 days. Participants then viewed health messages encouraging physical activity while undergoing functional MRI (fMRI) and completed an additional month where physical activity was logged and the health messages were reinforced with daily text reminders.

RESULTS

Individuals with higher default mode and salience system integration during health message exposure were more likely to decrease their sedentary behavior and increase light physical activity in the month following fMRI than participants with lower brain integration.

CONCLUSIONS

Interactions between the salience and default mode systems are associated with message receptivity and subsequent behavior change, highlighting the value of expanding the focus from the role of single brain regions in studying health behavior change to larger-scale connectivity. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

mHealth interventions targeting movement behaviors in Asia: A scoping review

mHealth interventions can promote healthy movement behaviors (physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep). However, recent reviews include few studies from Asia, despite it being home to over 60% of the world population. The aim is to map the current evidence for mHealth interventions targeting movement behaviors in Asia. Six databases were searched up until August 2021. Included studies described an mHealth intervention targeting one or more movement behaviors, delivered in a country/territory in Asia, to a general population. A total of 3986 unique records were screened for eligibility in duplicate. Eighty studies with 1,413,652 participants were included. Most were randomized (38.8%) or quasi-experimental (27.5%) trials. Studies were from 17 countries/territories (out of 55); majority were high- (65.0%) or upper middle-income (28.7%). Physical activity was targeted most often (93.8%), few targeted sedentary behavior (7.5%), or sleep (8.8%). Most targeted one movement behavior (90.0%), and none targeted all three together. Interventions typically incorporated a single mHealth component (70.0%; app, pedometer, text messages, wearable) and were delivered remotely (66.3%). The average intervention length was 121.8 (SD 127.6) days. mHealth interventions in Asia have primarily targeted physical activity in high- and upper middle-income countries. There are few interventions targeting sedentary behavior or sleep, and no interventions in low-income countries.

Impact of BMI, Physical Activity, and Sitting Time Levels on Health-Related Outcomes in a Group of Overweight and Obese Adults with and without Type 2 Diabetes

Physical activity level and sedentary behaviors affect health status in people with obesity and type 2 diabetes (DM2); their assessment is mandatory to properly prescribe exercise programs. From January 2011 to February 2014, 293 overweight/obese adults (165 women and 128 men, mean age of 51.9 ± 9.5 years and 54.6 ± 8.3 years, respectively), with and without DM2, participated in a three-month intensive exercise program. Before starting, participants were allocated into three subgroups (overweight, body mass index or BMI = 25-29.9; class 1 of obesity, BMI = 30-34.4; or class 2 (or superior) of obesity, BMI > 35). The international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ-it) was used to evaluate participants' baseline sitting time (SIT) and physical activity level (PAL). Stratified multiple analyses were performed using four subgroups of SIT level according to Ekelund et al., 2016 (low, 8 h/day of SIT) and three subgroups for PAL (high, moderate, and low). Health-related measures such as anthropometric variables, body composition, hematic parameters, blood pressure values, and functional capacities were studied at the beginning and at the end of the training period. An overall improvement of PAL was observed in the entire sample following the three-month intensive exercise program together with a general improvement in several health-related measures. The BMI group factor influenced the VO₂ max variations, leg press values, triglycerides, and anthropometric variables, while the SIT group factor impacted the sitting time, VO₂ max, glycemic profile, and fat mass. In this study, baseline PAL and SIT did not seem to influence the effects of an exercise intervention. The characteristics of our educational program, which also included a physical exercise protocol, allowed us to obtain positive results.