Replacing sitting time with physical activity associated with lower risk of death – ScienceDaily



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According to a new study by the American Cancer Society, replacing half an hour of sitting time with physical activity was associated with a reduction in mortality of nearly 50%. The study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, suggests that replacing a modest sitting time with even light physical activity can potentially reduce the risk of premature death in less active adults.

Regular physical activity of moderate to vigorous intensity (MVPA) is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease; some cancers; and premature death. In addition, time spent sedentary, distinct from physical inactivity, is associated with a higher risk of death and illness. This may be due, at least in part, to sedentary behavior that displaces physical activity.

Most of the previous studies have explored the potential effect of sedentary time without considering the physical activity it is moving, leaving a void in the understanding of the problem. To further explore, researchers led by Erika Rees-Punia, Ph.D., analyzed self-reported session time, light physical activity, and moderate / vigorous physical activity among 92,541 participants. the Nutrition Cohort of Study II on Cancer Prevention of ACS.

The analysis reviewed sedentary times and activity levels over 14 years. Found in those who were least active at baseline (approximately 17 minutes / day, moderate to vigorous physical activity), replacing 30 minutes / day sitting with light physical activity was associated with a 14% reduction in risk of death while replacing moderate physical activity with vigorous physical activity was associated with a 45% lower risk of death.

Investigators found similar but less important associations among moderately active participants: replacing half an hour of sedentary life with light physical activity was associated with a 6% reduction in mortality among the moderately active; Replacing 30 minutes of session with moderate to vigorous physical activity was associated with a 17% reduction in mortality in this group. However, among the most active (> 38 minutes / day of APMV), the substitution of sitting time for light physical activity or MVPA was not associated with a reduction in mortality risk.

Participants who reported more moderate or vigorous physical activity were leaner, had higher levels of education, and were less likely to smoke at this time. For all participants, sitting time largely included television (39%) and reading (20%).

The study had certain limitations: it was based on self-reported physical activity and sleep time; there was a lack of information about some activities of daily living (eg, cleaning, taking care of oneself, cooking) that are particularly common among older people. And the participants were mostly white and educated, so that they may not represent the general population of the United States.

"These results suggest that replacing a modest amount of sitting time with even light physical activity can potentially reduce the risk of premature death in less active adults," the authors concluded.

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Material provided by American Cancer Society. Note: Content can be changed for style and length.

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