Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 6, 2026
Short Session High Intensity Interval Training and Treadmill Assessment in Aged Mice
Published on: February 2, 2019
Replacement Effects of Sedentary Time on Metabolic Outcomes: The Maastricht Study
Julianne D VAN DER Berg1, Jeroen H P M VAN DER Velde, Ellis A C DE Waard
11Department of Social Medicine, Maastricht University, Maastricht, THE NETHERLANDS; 2CAPHRI Care and Public Health Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, THE NETHERLANDS; 3Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, THE NETHERLANDS; 4Department of Human Movement Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, THE NETHERLANDS; 5NUTRIM School for Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, Maastricht, THE NETHERLANDS; 6Department of Internal Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, THE NETHERLANDS; 7CARIM School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University, Maastricht, THE NETHERLANDS; 8Biomedical Research Institute, University of Hasselt, Diepenbeek, BELGIUM; 9Department of Internal Medicine, VieCuri Medical Centre, Venlo, THE NETHERLANDS; 10Department of Epidemiology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, THE NETHERLANDS; 11Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, THE NETHERLANDS; and 12MHeNS School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, THE NETHERLANDS.
Introduction:
Sedentary time has been associated with detrimental health effects, so in some countries, guidelines to reduce sedentary time have been developed. As reducing sedentary time inevitably results in more nonsedentary time, effects of this reduction may depend on the activity with which it is replaced.
Purpose:
This study aimed to examine associations of theoretical reallocations of sedentary time to standing or stepping with cardiometabolic outcomes and type 2 diabetes.
Methods:
We included 2213 participants (51% men, mean ± SD age = 60.0 ± 8.1 yr) of the Maastricht Study who were asked to wear an accelerometer 24 h·d for a week. We calculated daily sedentary, standing, and stepping time. An isotemporal substitution modeling approach was applied to examine effects on waist circumference; body mass index; cholesterol, triacylglycerol, glucose, and insulin levels; metabolic syndrome; and type 2 diabetes.
Results:
Replacement of sedentary time (30 min·d) with stepping was associated with lower odds for metabolic syndrome (odds ratio [OR] = 0.72, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.66-0.78) and type 2 diabetes (OR = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.72-0.87), more favorable waist circumference (B = -1.42, 95% CI = -1.78 to -1.06), and body mass index (B = -0.48, 95% CI = -0.62 to -0.35) and improved cholesterol, triacylglycerol, glucose, and insulin levels. Replacing sedentary time with standing was associated with lower odds for metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes and favorable outcomes in waist circumference, cholesterol, triacylglycerol, and insulin levels.
Conclusion:
Theoretical replacements of sedentary time with nonsedentary time (both standing and stepping) were associated with lower odds for metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and beneficial metabolic outcomes. These results could be important for the general population, including those who cannot meet physical activity guidelines. Consideration should be given to developing recommendations for daily reallocating sedentary time.
More Related Videos
10:31An Experimental Model of Diet-Induced Metabolic Syndrome in Rabbit: Methodological Considerations, Development, and Assessment
Published on: April 20, 2018
05:59Visualization of Intensity Levels to Reduce the Gap Between Self-Reported and Directly Measured Physical Activity
Published on: March 7, 2019
Related Concept Videos
01:25Metabolic Rate
The Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) measures the energy expended at rest.
Several factors influence...
01:20Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Metabolism and Excretion
01:19Factors Affecting Drug Biotransformation: Biological
Species differences: Variations in enzyme systems across species can cause disparities in drug metabolism. For instance, humans may metabolize certain drugs faster than rodents, altering therapeutic effects.
Strain differences: Genetic variations within a species can result in differing enzyme activity, impacting drug response and toxicity. For example, some mouse strains may...
01:20Study Designs in Epidemiology
Observational studies are those where the researcher does not intervene but rather observes natural variations. They include cross-sectional, cohort, and...
01:29Bone Disorders
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...