Year: 2015
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To examine associations of time spent sitting in cars with markers of cardio-metabolic risk in Australian adults. METHOD: Data were from 2800 participants (age range: 34-65) in the 2011-12 Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study. Self-reported time spent in cars was categorized into four groups: ≤15min/day; >15 to ≤30min/day; >30 to ≤60min/day; and >60min/day. Markers of cardio-metabolic risk were body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, triglycerides, HDL (high-density lipoprotein)-cholesterol, fasting plasma glucose, 2-h plasma glucose, a clustered cardio-metabolic risk score, and having the metabolic syndrome or not. Multilevel linear and logistic regression analyses examined associations of car time with each cardio-metabolic risk outcome, adjusting for socio-demographic and behavioral variables and medication use for blood pressure and cholesterol/triglycerides. RESULTS: Compared to spending 15min/day or less in cars, spending more than 1h/day in cars was significantly associated with higher BMI, waist circumference, fasting plasma glucose, and clustered cardio-metabolic risk, after adjusting for socio-demographic attributes and potentially relevant behaviors including leisure-time physical activity and dietary intake. Gender interactions showed car time to be associated with higher BMI in men only. CONCLUSIONS: Prolonged time spent sitting in cars, in particular over 1h/day, was associated with higher total and central adiposity and a more-adverse cardio-metabolic risk profile. Further studies, ideally using objective measures of sitting time in cars and prospective designs, are needed to confirm the impact of car use on cardio-metabolic disease risk.
Source: Preventive Medicine
Institutions: Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, The University of Melbourne, University of South Australia, Swinburne University of Technology, University of Cambridge, MRC Epidemiology Unit, Deakin University, The University of Queensland, The University of Western Australia, Monash University, Australian Catholic University
Language: English
Topic: Physical Activity and Health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $2,730
Funders: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly and Company, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi, Queensland Health, Pratt Foundation, Australian Government, British Heart Foundation, Diabetes Australia, Kidney Health Australia, Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, Novo Nordisk, State Government of Victoria, Menzies Institute for Medical Research, Barwon Health Foundation, Amgen Australia, Eli Lilly Australia, Medical Research Council, National Health and Medical Research Council, Cilag
Awards: Too much sitting and too little exercise: changing environments to help Australians sit less, move more and improve their health, Centre of Research Excellence on Sitting Time and Chronic Disease Prevention – Mechanisms, Measurement and Interventions, G2932470759, G3848992922, Cardiovascular risks of prolonged sitting, G666317391, AusDiab 3, Research to reduce sitting time and increase physical activity to prevent disease and promote better health, The Australian Prospective Diabetes Study - APDS, G7586549126, Physical activity epidemiology, G8593418761, G8778108758, Unlocking the health effects of sitting to reduce chronic disease
OpenAlex ID: W2184085615