Nathalie Duvigneaud

Sedentary behaviour, physical activity and a continuous metabolic syndrome risk score in adults.

Objective:The association of sedentary behaviour and leisure time physical activity with a validated continuous metabolic syndrome risk score was investigated in adults.Subjects/Methods:A number of 992 adults (559 men) without cardiovascular disease or diabetes. Subjects reported time spent in leisure time physical activity and television watching/computer activities. A validated metabolic syndrome risk score, based on waist circumference, triglycerides, blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, was used. The metabolic syndrome risk score and time spent in sedentary behaviour and physical activity were analysed as continuous variables using multiple linear regression.Results:Metabolic syndrome risk was positively associated with time spent watching television/computer activities, irrespective of physical activity level, and after adjustment for age, education level, smoking status and dietary intake in women aged ⩾45 years (β=0.184, P<0.05). Independent of the time being sedentary, moderate to vigorous leisure time physical activity was inversely associated with metabolic syndrome risk in men (<45 years: β=−0.183, P<0.01; ⩾45 years: β=−0.192, P<0.01) and women aged ⩾45 years (β=−0.203, P<0.01).Conclusions:Although cross-sectional, the present results support inclusion of efforts to decrease sedentary behaviour in metabolic syndrome prevention strategies for women aged ⩾45 years, besides promotion of moderate to vigorous physical activity, since both behavioural changes might show additional effects.

Reliability and Validity of the Flemish Physical Activity Computerized Questionnaire in Adults

The purpose of this study was to investigate the test-retest reliability and concurrent validity of the Flemish Physical Activity Computerized Questionnaire (FPACQ) in employed/unemployed and retired people. The FPACQ was developed to assess detailed information on several dimensions of physical activity and sedentary behavior over a usual week. A triaxial accelerometer, the RT3 Triaxial Research Tracker (RT3), in combination with a written 7-day activity record, was used as the objective criterion measure. In employed/unemployed people, 2-week test-retest reliability for several activity variables calculated from the FPACQ was good to excellent with intraclass correlations (ICCs) ranging from .67 to .99. In retired people ICCs were lower but, except for time spent eating, still fair to excellent, ranging from .57 to .96. Except for time spent in leisure time activities for men and the average energy expenditure related to sports participation in women, correlations between the RT3 and the FPACQ generally supported the relative validity of the FPACQ for employed/unemployed people (r ranging from .37 to .88). Values for retired people were somewhat lower (r ranging from .15 to .85), but most variables still reached at least moderate correlations. Concerning absolute validity, the FPACQ generally overestimated physical activity and underestimated sedentary behavior compared to the RT3. From this study, it can be concluded that the FPACQ is a reliable and reasonably valid questionnaire for assessing different dimensions of physical activity and sedentary behavior.

Lipid profile in men and women with different levels of sports participation and physical activity

OBJECTIVEnThe purpose of the present study was to analyse the lipid profile in men and women differentiated according to energy expenditure during sports participation (EE(SPORT)), energy expenditure during active leisure time (EE(ALT)) and overall energy expenditure (EE(TOTAL)).nnnDESIGNnThe subjects were grouped by sex, age, EE(SPORT), EE(ALT) and EE(TOTAL). Group differences were analysed using analyses of covariance with BMI and alcohol consumption as covariates.nnnSETTINGnPhysical activity was assessed using the Flemish Physical Activity Computerised Questionnaire. Fasting blood samples were taken to measure total cholesterol (TC), TAG, HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) and the ratio TC:HDL-C.nnnSUBJECTSnThe study sample consisted of 1170 Flemish men and women between 18 and 75 years of age.nnnRESULTSnDifferences in lipid profile were observed in the younger age group (<45 years), all in favour of the most active group. More specifically, when differentiating by EE(ALT) and EE(TOTAL), men had a healthier lipid profile for TAG, HDL-C and TC:HDL-C. Differentiation according to EE(SPORT) revealed the same significant results except for TAG. In women significant results for HDL-C, LDL-C and TC:HDL-C were found when differentiated by EE(SPORT).nnnCONCLUSIONSnMen and women <45 years of age with higher levels of energy expenditure due to sport show a better lipid profile than their sedentary counterparts. When differentiating subjects according to energy expenditure during active leisure time or overall energy expenditure, only in men was a healthier lipid profile observed in favour of the most active subjects.