Associations of objectively measured physical activity, sedentary time and cardiorespiratory fitness with adipose tissue insulin resistance and ectopic fat

Sundus Malaikah; Scott A Willis; Joseph Henson; Jack A Sargeant; Thomas Yates; Alice E Thackray; Fernanda R Goltz; Matthew J Roberts; Danielle H Bodicoat; Guruprasad P Aithal; David J Stensel; James A King

doi:10.1038/s41366-023-01350-0

Associations of objectively measured physical activity, sedentary time and cardiorespiratory fitness with adipose tissue insulin resistance and ectopic fat

Int J Obes (Lond). 2023 Oct;47(10):1000-1007. doi: 10.1038/s41366-023-01350-0. Epub 2023 Jul 25.

Authors

Sundus Malaikah^{1

2

3}, Scott A Willis^{1

2}, Joseph Henson^{2

4}, Jack A Sargeant^{2

4}, Thomas Yates^{2

4}, Alice E Thackray^{1

2}, Fernanda R Goltz^{1

2}, Matthew J Roberts^{1

2}, Danielle H Bodicoat⁵, Guruprasad P Aithal^{6

7}, David J Stensel^{1

2

8

9}, James A King^{10

11}

Affiliations

¹ National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine, School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK.
² NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust and University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
³ Clinical Nutrition Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
⁴ Diabetes Research Centre, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
⁵ Simplified Data, Leicester, UK.
⁶ Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
⁷ NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
⁸ Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa, Japan.
⁹ Department of Sport Science and Physical Education, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Central Ave, Hong Kong.
¹⁰ National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine, School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK. j.a.king@lboro.ac.uk.
¹¹ NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust and University of Leicester, Leicester, UK. j.a.king@lboro.ac.uk.

Abstract

Background/objectives: Inadequate movement, excess adiposity, and insulin resistance augment cardiometabolic risk. This study examined the associations of objectively measured moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA), sedentary time and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), with adipose tissue insulin resistance and ectopic fat.

Methods: Data were combined from two previous experimental studies with community volunteers (n = 141, male = 60%, median (interquartile range) age = 37 (19) years, body mass index (BMI) = 26.1 (6.3) kg·m^-2). Adipose tissue insulin resistance was assessed using the adipose tissue insulin resistance index (Adipo-IR); whilst magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to measure liver, visceral (VAT) and subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue (ScAT). Sedentary time and MVPA were measured via an ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometer. Generalized linear models examined the association of CRF, MVPA, and sedentary time with Adipo-IR and fat depots. Interaction terms explored the moderating influence of age, sex, BMI and CRF.

Results: After controlling for BMI and cardiometabolic variables, sedentary time was positively associated with Adipo-IR (β = 0.68 AU [95%CI = 0.27 to 1.10], P < 0.001). The association between sedentary time and Adipo-IR was moderated by age, CRF and BMI; such that it was stronger in individuals who were older, had lower CRF and had a higher BMI. Sedentary time was also positively associated with VAT (β = 0.05 L [95%CI = 0.01 to 0.08], P = 0.005) with the relationship being stronger in females than males. CRF was inversely associated with VAT (β = -0.02 L [95%CI = -0.04 to -0.01], P = 0.003) and ScAT (β = -0.10 L [95%CI = -0.13 to -0.06], P < 0.001); with sex and BMI moderating the strength of associations with VAT and ScAT, respectively.

Conclusions: Sedentary time is positively associated with adipose tissue insulin resistance which regulates lipogenesis and lipolysis. CRF is independently related to central fat storage which is a key risk factor for cardiometabolic disease.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adipose Tissue
Adult
Body Mass Index
Cardiorespiratory Fitness* / physiology
Cardiovascular Diseases*
Exercise / physiology
Female
Humans
Insulin Resistance*
Male
Physical Fitness
Sedentary Behavior

Grants and funding

DH_/Department of Health/United Kingdom