Metabolic Effect of Breaking Up Prolonged Sitting with Stair Climbing Exercise Snacks

Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2021 Jan;53(1):150-158. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000002431.

Abstract

Purpose: Prolonged sitting is associated with cardiometabolic complications. The study purpose was to investigate whether breaking up prolonged sitting with brief stair climbing exercise "snacks" could lower postprandial insulin, glucose, and free fatty acids responses.

Methods: In two separate randomized crossover studies, 12 young healthy-weight men (study 1) and 11 adults with overweight/obesity (OW; study 2) completed two experimental conditions: i) sedentary (SED; 9-h sitting) and ii) stair climbing snacks (SS; 8 × 15-30 s once per hour). The same high-glycemic index meals were consumed at 0, 3, and 6 h at each condition. The primary outcome was total insulin area under the curve (AUC) across 9 h.

Results: In healthy-weight men, there were no significant differences between SS and SED for total (9-h) insulin AUC (P = 0.24, d = 0.4), total glucose AUC (P = 0.17, d = 0.48), total nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) AUC (P = 0.22, d = 0.4), or total triglyceride AUC (P = 0.72). In adults with OW, total insulin AUC (-16.5%, P = 0.036, d = 0.94) and total NEFA AUC (-21%, P = 0.016, d = 1.2) were significantly lower in SS versus SED. No differences were found for total glucose and triglyceride AUC (all, P > 0.31) in participants with OW.

Conclusions: Breaking up 9 h of prolonged sitting with hourly brief stair climbing exercise snacks lowered postprandial insulin and NEFA levels in adults with overweight/obesity.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Area Under Curve
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / blood
  • Humans
  • Insulin / blood
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Obesity / blood*
  • Obesity / therapy*
  • Overweight / blood*
  • Overweight / therapy*
  • Postprandial Period
  • Sedentary Behavior*
  • Sitting Position
  • Stair Climbing*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Fatty Acids, Nonesterified
  • Insulin

Grants and funding