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Heritability of objectively assessed and self-reported sedentary behavior
Nienke M Schutte1,2, Charlotte Huppertz1,2,3, Stieneke Doornweerd4
1Department of Biological Psychology, Netherlands Twin Register, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports
|March 19, 2020
Summary
Genetic factors significantly influence sedentary behavior, explaining over half of objective sitting time differences. This research highlights the genetic overlap between sedentary time and physical activity, crucial for understanding health risks.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral genetics
- Public health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Sedentary behavior is linked to premature mortality and non-communicable diseases.
- Understanding individual differences in sedentary behavior is critical for public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the genetic and environmental contributions to objectively measured and self-reported sedentary behavior.
- To examine the shared genetic basis between sedentary time and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA).
Main Methods:
- Utilized accelerometer data (Actigraph) and International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF) in 800 twins and siblings.
- Employed quantitative genetic modeling to estimate heritability and genetic correlations.
Main Results:
- Genetic factors accounted for 56% of variance in objective sedentary behavior and 26% in self-reported sedentary behavior.
- A genetic correlation of 0.49 indicated shared genetic influences on both objective and self-reported sitting time.
- A genetic correlation of -0.31 suggested overlapping genetic variants influencing sedentary time and MVPA.
Conclusions:
- Objective sedentary behavior is substantially heritable, unlike self-reported measures.
- Sedentary time and MVPA are not simply inversely related, with shared genetic underpinnings.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the genetic pathways influencing these behaviors for health promotion.
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