Objectively Measured Sedentary Behavior, Physical Activity, and Cardiometabolic Risk in Hispanic Youth: Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latino Youth

Abstract

Context: Time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), but not in sedentary behavior (SB), is related to cardiometabolic risk among non-Hispanic white youth.

Objective: Examine associations of SB and MVPA with cardiometabolic risk factors among Hispanic/Latino youth.

Design: Cross-sectional analysis.

Setting: Four US communities.

Participants: Hispanic/Latino youth (N = 1,426) ages 8 to 16 years.

Measurements: Associations of MVPA and SB, measured using 7-day accelerometer data (independent variables), with markers of glucose and lipid metabolism, inflammation, and endothelial function (dependent variables), were assessed in multivariable linear regression models while adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and accelerometer wear time. Additional models controlled for obesity measures.

Results: SB comprised a mean (SD) of 75% (13%) of accelerometer wear time; mean (SD) time of MVPA was 35 min/d (22 min/d). Deleterious levels of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides, insulin resistance, C-reactive protein, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 were associated with lower levels of MVPA and higher levels of SB (all P < 0.05). Associations of MVPA with log-transformed triglyceride concentrations (β per 15-min/d increment, -0.039; SE, 0.018; P = 0.037) and SB with HDL-C (β per 30-min/d increment, -0.63; SE, 0.26; P = 0.018), but not those with other markers, remained significant after adjusting for MVPA or SB and further adjustment for body mass index and waist circumference. Higher SB tertiles were associated with lower soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products in fully adjusted models (P for trend = 0.037).

Conclusions: Physiological precursors of diabetes and cardiovascular disease were associated with MVPA and SB among US Hispanic/Latino youth, a group that bears a disproportionate burden of metabolic disorders.

Figure 1.

Least squares mean levels of cardiometabolic markers, by tertile of time spent in MVPA and SB. Models adjust for age, sex, Hispanic background, field center, immigrant generation, parental education level, annual family income, diet quality, and mean daily accelerometer wear time. P values for interaction test for heterogeneity in the effect of MVPA modeled as a continuous variable across tertiles of SB. *Log-transformed variables are modeled and geometric means are presented for levels of triglycerides, HOMA-IR, hs-CRP, PAI-1, E-selectin, and sRAGE.