Sedentary Behavior Predicts Changes in Cardiometabolic Risk in Professional Workers: A One-Year Prospective Study.

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to examine the longitudinal influence of sedentary behavior on the development of metabolic syndrome (MS) and cardiometabolic risk in professional workers. Study participants were 203 professional workers (55.6% female; mean age = 41.9, SD = 11.2,) in low physical activity occupations. Participants' height, weight, waist circumference, fasting plasma glucose, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein were measured at the baseline and follow-up over 12 months. Accelerometry was used to assess the sedentary time and moderate and vigorous physical activity. High level of sedentary behavior at baseline significantly predicted incident MS (odds ratio 4.07, 95% confidence interval 1.69 to 9.76) at follow-up. Similarly, the change in sedentary behavior significantly predicted the change in the cardiometabolic risk score (B = 0.12, SE = 0.06, P = 0.03) from baseline to the follow-up. Professional workers in low physical activity occupations were engaged in an excessive amount of sedentary behavior that predisposed them to an increased risk of developing cardiometabolic disorders.