Body composition affected by the energy spent standing in relation to the seated position

According to a new study published in the open access journal, a person's body composition could affect the difference between the amount of energy expended while sitting or standing. PLOS ONE. Directed by Francisco J. Amaro-Gahete of the University of Granada, Spain, and his colleagues, this work adds to the growing evidence that more energy is spent standing, than standing or sitting.

Sedentary lifestyles are linked to an increased risk of developing various health problems, including diabetes, obesity, and cancer. The difference in energy that a person spends standing while standing in relation to sitting or lying can be a determinant of health risks, but previous studies have revealed inconsistent results in size actual of these differences. In addition, body composition – the proportion of fat in the body of a person – could affect these differences, but its role has not been clearly defined.

To address these issues, Amaro-Gahete and colleagues measured differences in energy expenditure between ages 55 and older, young adults between the ages of 25 and 25, consistent with previous research. to be lying, while there was no difference between sitting and lying.

The researchers also examined the associations between energy expenditure in different positions and the body composition of the participants. They found no significant association between energy spent lying down, sitting or lying down, and standing up. However, they found that participants with leaner body mass had less energy to sit or stand.

These findings support the idea that a simple way for a person to increase their energy expenditure is to increase their standing time. The results could also contribute to efforts to better understand, monitor and combat sedentary lifestyles.

Amaro-Gahete adds, "Increasing standing time could be a simple strategy to increase energy expenditure."