Sitting Time, Type, and Context Among Long-Term Weight-Loss Maintainers

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate sitting time, the home sedentary environment, and physical activity among weight-loss maintainers in WW (formerly Weight Watchers).

Methods: Participants were 4,305 weight-loss maintainers who had maintained ≥9.1 kg of weight loss (24.7 kg on average) for 3.3 years and had an average current BMI of 27.6 kg/m² . A control group of weight-stable individuals with obesity (n = 619) had an average BMI of 38.9 kg/m² . The Multicontext Sitting Time Questionnaire and Paffenbarger physical activity questionnaire were administered.

Results: Weight-loss maintainers versus controls spent 3 hours less per day sitting during the week (10.9 vs. 13.9; ${\eta }_p^2$ = 0.039; P = 0.0001) and weekends (9.7 vs. 12.6; ${\eta }_p^2$ = 0.038). Weight-loss maintainers versus controls spent 1 hour less per day in non-work-related sitting using a computer or video games during the week (1.4 vs. 2.3; ${\eta }_p^2$ = 0.03; P = 0.0001) and weekends (1.5 vs. 2.5; ${\eta }_p^2$ = 0.03; P = 0.0001). Weight-loss maintainers versus controls had similar numbers of sedentary-promoting devices (15.8 vs. 14.8) and expended significantly more calories per week in physical activity (1,835 vs. 785; ${\eta }_p^2$ = 0.036; P = 0.0001).

Conclusions: Weight-loss maintainers reported less time sitting than weight-stable individuals with obesity. Future research should test the efficacy of targeting sitting time to help promote long-term weight-loss maintenance.