The energy expenditure benefits of reallocating sedentary time with physical activity: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Publication type
Journal article
Authors
Biswas A, Oh PI, Faulkner GE, Bonsignore A, Pakosh MT, Alter DA
Date published
2018 Jan 01
Journal
Journal of Public Health
Volume
40
Issue
2
Pages
295-303
Open Access?
Yes
Abstract

Background: We compared direct and daily cumulative energy expenditure (EE) differences associated with reallocating sedentary time to physical activity in adults for meaningful EE changes. Methods: Peer-reviewed studies in PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched from inception to March 2017. Randomized and non-randomized interventions with sedentary time and EE outcomes in adults were included. Study quality was assessed by the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute tool, and summarized using random-effects meta-analysis and meta-regression. Results: In total, 26 studies were reviewed, and 24 studies examined by meta-analysis. Reallocating 6-9 h of sedentary time to light-intensity physical activity (LIPA) (standardized mean difference [SMD], 2.501 ) had lower cumulative EE than 6-9 h of combined LIPA and moderate-vigorous intensity physical activity (LIPA and moderate-vigorous physical activity [MVPA]) (SMD, 5.218 ). Reallocating 1 h of MVPA resulted in greater cumulative EE than 3-5 h of LIPA and MVPA, but <6-9 h of LIPA and MVPA. Conclusions: Comparable EE can be achieved by different strategies, and promoting MVPA might be effective for those individuals where a combination of MVPA and LIPA is challenging