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

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

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. [Figure not available: see fulltext.].

Citation

Malaikah, S., Willis, S. A., Henson, J., Sargeant, J. A., Yates, T., Thackray, A. E., Goltz, F. R., Roberts, M. J., Bodicoat, D. H., Aithal, G. P., Stensel, D. J., & King, J. A. (2023). Associations of objectively measured physical activity, sedentary time and cardiorespiratory fitness with adipose tissue insulin resistance and ectopic fat. International Journal of Obesity, 47(10), 1000–1007. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-023-01350-0

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 14, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Jul 25, 2023
• Publication Date: Oct 1, 2023
• Deposit Date: Jul 17, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 25, 2023
• Journal: International Journal of Obesity
• Print ISSN: 0307-0565
• Electronic ISSN: 1476-5497
• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 47
• Issue: 10
• Pages: 1000–1007
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-023-01350-0
• Keywords: Nutrition and Dietetics; Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism; Medicine (miscellaneous)
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/23002796
• Publisher URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41366-023-01350-0
• Additional Information: Received: 24 November 2022; Revised: 29 June 2023; Accepted: 14 July 2023; First Online: 25 July 2023; : The authors declare no competing interests.