Frequent Versus Single Active Bouts Differentially Affect Movement Behavior and Energy Balance in Adults With...

This study aimed to investigate the effects of breaking up sedentary behavior (SB) on daily movement behavior and energy balance in adults with overweight/obesity.

Thirty participants (16F/14M; 34.2 ± 7.3 years; 29.5 ± 3.2 kg/m²) were randomized to either BREAK (multiple 5-min brisk walking bouts) or a duration-matched intervention, ONE (45-min brisk walking), performed 5 days/week for 6 weeks. At pre- and post-intervention, daily SB and physical activity (PA; accelerometry), body composition (doubly labeled water [DLW]), total daily energy expenditure (TDEE; DLW), appetite, and fasting leptin were measured. Linear mixed-effects models tested time effects and group-by-time interactions.

Only BREAK reduced prolonged SB (interaction: p = 0.043). Both groups shifted SB-PA composition toward greater moderate-to-vigorous PA, with proportional reductions in SB and light PA (time: all p ≤ 0.011). These changes in PA level were associated with increased TDEE (time: p = 0.040). ONE showed small increases in body and fat mass compared with BREAK (interaction: both p ≤ 0.061). No differences were noted in metabolizable energy intake, appetite, or leptin levels.

Spreading short PA bouts throughout the day increases moderate-to-vigorous PA and TDEE to the same extent as a traditional continuous PA bout. Future studies should investigate whether the modest body composition changes observed across interventions are driven by distinct behavioral/physiological compensations influenced by the daily pattern of PA/SB.

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02998892.