Sedentary Behavior, Physical Activity, and Abdominal Adipose Tissue Deposition

Kara M. Whitaker, Mark A Pereira, David R Jacobs Jr, Stephen Sidney, Andrew O. Odegaard

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

28 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose We examined whether sedentary lifestyle habits and physical activity level are associated with abdominal visceral adipose tissue (VAT), subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT), and liver attenuation, independently of one another and potential confounders. Methods This study analyzed 3010 African American and Caucasian men and women, 42-59 yr old, from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study, who completed multiple-slice abdominal computed tomography in 2010-2011. Participants reported average hours per day sitting (television, computing, paperwork, music, telephone, and car). Physical activity was assessed with the CARDIA physical activity history. VAT, SAT, IMAT, and liver attenuation were estimated from computed tomography. Multivariable general linear regression models regressed means of fat depots on total sedentary time, task-specific sedentary time, and total physical activity. Results Television viewing was positively, and physical activity inversely, associated with fat depots. For each 1 SD increment in television viewing (1.5 h·d -1), VAT, SAT, and IMAT were greater by 3.5, 3.4, and 3.9 cm 3, respectively (P < 0.03 for all). For each 1 SD increment in physical activity (275 exercise units), VAT, SAT, and IMAT were lower by 7.6, 6.7, and 8.1 cm 3, respectively, and liver attenuation was greater (indicating more liver fat) by 0.5 Hounsfield units (P < 0.01 for all). Total sedentary time was associated with VAT, IMAT, and liver attenuation in White men only after controlling for physical activity, SAT, and other potential confounders (P ≤ 0.01 for all). No other task-specific sedentary behaviors were associated with fat depots. Conclusions Sedentary behaviors, particularly television viewing, and physical activity levels have distinct, independent associations with fat deposition.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)450-458
Number of pages9
JournalMedicine and science in sports and exercise
Volume49
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1 2017

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The CARDIA is supported by contracts HHSN268201300025C, HHSN268201300026C, HHSN268201300027C, HHSN268201300028C, HHSN268201300029C, and HHSN268200900041C from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), the Intramural Research Program of the National Institute on Aging (NIA), and an intra-agency agreement between NIA and NHLBI (AG0005). This work was supported by grant R21 HL121627-01A1 fromthe National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. KMW was supported in part by research training grant T32 HL007779. The authors thank the investigators, the staff, and the participants of the CARDIA study for their valuable contributions.

Publisher Copyright:
© Copyright 2017 by the American College of Sports Medicine.

Keywords

  • INTERMUSCULAR ADIPOSE TISSUE
  • LIVER ATTENUATION
  • SUBCUTANEOUS ADIPOSE TISSUE
  • VISCERAL ADIPOSE TISSUE

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