Light-intensity physical activity derived from count or activity types are differently associated with adiposity markers

AIM: The aim of this study was to compare the association between count- and activity type-based definitions of light intensity physical activity (LIPA) and adiposity markers.

METHODS: A total of 516 Danish workers participated in 1-4 days of hip- and thigh-based accelerometer measurements. Three definitions of average daily time spent in LIPA were derived: LIPA 1) time spent between 100-2029 CPM, LIPA 2) time spent moving and slow walking, and LIPA 3) time spent moving, walking slow and standing. Adiposity markers were body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage and waist circumference. The cross-sectional association between the three LIPA definitions and adiposity markers were analyzed and interpreted using compositional regression models followed by reallocation of time between LIPA, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and sedentary behavior (SB), respectively.

RESULTS: The geometric means of daily time (min/day) spent in LIPA 1, LIPA 2 and LIPA 3 were 326, 102 and 274, respectively. We found the direction and strength of the association between the relative importance of daily time spent in LIPA and the adiposity markers to depend on the LIPA definition. For example, reallocating 30 min from MVPA to LIPA 1, LIPA 2 and LIPA 3 was associated with a 2.97 (95% CI: 0.68; 5.27), -0.71 (95% CI: -1.43; 0.02) and -0.45 (95% CI: -1.01; 0.11) difference in BMI, respectively.

CONCLUSION: Our findings highlight the need for caution when comparing results from studies using different definitions of LIPA.