In this study, as described in our research article published in the December 2018 issue of MSSE, we analyzed information from a large data set that included almost 1,400 women and men. Time spent in activities of varying intensity levels was measured using a research-grade tri-axial accelerometer. Then, we calculated accelerometer-determined sedentary time in prolonged (30 minutes or more) or non-prolonged (less than 30 minutes) bouts and time spent in activities of higher intensity, i.e., light, moderate or vigorous. Thereafter, we investigated the associations between sedentary time or time spent physically active with body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and physical activity energy expenditure. Using the isotemporal substitution approach, we could account for the interdependency between time spent at different intensity levels. 

Our results showed that replacing prolonged sedentary time with non-prolonged sedentary time was significantly associated with lower BMI and waist circumference in men, but this replacement was not associated with physical activity energy expenditure. However, replacing either type of sedentary time with light or moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was associated with higher physical energy expenditure, as well as lower BMI and waist circumference in both men and women. 

ΔΙΑΒΑΣΤΕ ΤΟ ΑΡΘΡΟ