Associations of objectively measured physical activity, sedentary time and cardiorespiratory fitness with adipose tissue insulin resistance and ectopic fat

Abstract

Background/objectives: Inadequate movement, excess adiposity, and insulin resistance augment cardiometabolic risk. This study examined the associations of objectively measured moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA), sedentary time and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), with adipose tissue insulin resistance and ectopic fat. Methods: Data were combined from two previous experimental studies with community volunteers (n = 141, male = 60%, median (interquartile range) age = 37 (19) years, body mass index (BMI) = 26.1 (6.3) kg·m-2). Adipose tissue insulin resistance was assessed using the adipose tissue insulin resistance index (Adipo-IR); whilst magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to measure liver, visceral (VAT) and subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue (ScAT). Sedentary time and MVPA were measured via an ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometer. Generalized linear models examined the association of CRF, MVPA, and sedentary time with Adipo-IR and fat depots. Interaction terms explored the moderating influence of age, sex, BMI and CRF. Results: After controlling for BMI and cardiometabolic variables, sedentary time was positively associated with Adipo-IR (β = 0.68 AU [95%CI = 0.27 to 1.10], P < 0.001). The association between sedentary time and Adipo-IR was moderated by age, CRF and BMI; such that it was stronger in individuals who were older, had lower CRF and had a higher BMI. Sedentary time was also positively associated with VAT (β = 0.05 L [95%CI = 0.01 to 0.08], P = 0.005) with the relationship being stronger in females than males. CRF was inversely associated with VAT (β = −0.02 L [95%CI = −0.04 to −0.01], P = 0.003) and ScAT (β = −0.10 L [95%CI = −0.13 to −0.06], P < 0.001); with sex and BMI moderating the strength of associations with VAT and ScAT, respectively. Conclusions: Sedentary time is positively associated with adipose tissue insulin resistance which regulates lipogenesis and lipolysis. CRF is independently related to central fat storage which is a key risk factor for cardiometabolic disease. [Figure not available: see fulltext.].