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Publications

Journal Article Ppublish

PubMed: 40121964 DOI: 10.1016/j.jnha.2025.100544

Associations between time spent in sedentary behaviors and metabolic syndrome risk in physically active and inactive European older adults.

J Nutr Health Aging 29(6):100544

Authors: Andreas Nilsson, Hadil Limem, Aurelia Santoro, Laura Smeldy Jurado-Medina, Agnes A M Berendsen, Lisette C P G M de Groot, Joanna Kaluza, Olga Januszko, Amy Jennings, Susan Fairweather-Tait, Claudio Franceschi, Fawzi Kadi

Affiliations

  • School of Health Sciences, Örebro University, Sweden.
  • UFR STAPS, University of Paris Nanterre, France.
  • Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy; Interdepartmental Centre"Alma Mater Research Institute on Global Challenges and Climate Change (Alma Climate)", University of Bologna, Italy.
  • Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University & Research, The Netherlands.
  • Department of Human Nutrition, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (WULS-SGGW), Poland.
  • Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, United Kingdom.
  • School of Health Sciences, Örebro University, Sweden.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES

To determine how clustered metabolic risk based on a validated continuous metabolic syndrome risk score is associated with objectively assessed time in sedentary behaviors (SB) in physically active and inactive older adults, while considering adherence to healthy eating habits.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: The study comprises 871 community-dwelling older adults (age 65-79 years) recruited from four European countries.

MEASUREMENTS

Daily times spent in SB and physical activity (PA) were assessed by accelerometers (Actigraph GT3X) for a week. Waist circumference, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, mean arterial blood pressure, fasting glucose and insulin were determined, and a continuous metabolic syndrome risk score (cMSy) was generated using principal component analysis. Healthy eating habits were assessed by food record. General linear models stratified by adherence to PA guidelines (active/inactive) were used to examine differences in cMSy across tertiles of time in SB (Low, Medium, High) with adjustment for covariates, including healthy eating habits.

RESULTS

A significantly (p < 0.05) lower cMSy was observed among older adults in the low SB tertile compared to medium and high SB tertiles, with no difference between the latter tertiles. The favorable effect of low amounts of SB on cMSy was indicated in both active and inactive groups, and regardless of healthy eating habits. Further, being active was related to a more favorable cMSy across all SB tertiles.

CONCLUSION

Low amounts of time spent in SB are related to a lower metabolic syndrome risk regardless of adherence to PA guidelines and healthy eating habits in older adults, supporting guidelines targeting limited amounts of SB alongside engagement in moderate-to-vigorous PA for promotion of metabolic health.

MeSH

Eating, Aging, Nutritional Physiological Phenomena, Sedentary Behavior, Diet, Healthy, Metabolic Syndrome