Couch potatoes win weighty argument

Couch potatoes may be able to argue that their sedentary behaviour is not necessarily a lifestyle factor which leads to obesity in later life.

A British study funded by the Medical Research Council recorded sedentary time and body measurements for middle-aged white people at the start of the study and more than five years later.

Almost 400 participants had their body weight, body mass index (BMI), fat mass (FM) and waist circumference (WC) measured between 1994 and 1996 (baseline) and again between 2001 and 2003 (follow-up). Sedentary time and energy expenditure were recorded over a four-day period at baseline and follow-up.

The results showed sedentary behaviour in adults did not lead to obesity indicators in later life. It did however suggest that body weight, BMI, FM and WC could predict an increased amount of sedentary time in healthy middle-aged white people more than five years later.

The research was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

The study’s lead author, Ulf Ekelund at the MRC’s epidemiology unit, said: “The results show that although sedentary behaviour does not lead to obesity, obesity and weight gain can lead to sedentary behaviour.

“While the study indicated sedentary time was not a predictor of future obesity, we do know that sedentary behaviour is still not a good thing. Sedentary behaviour can lead to high levels of insulin and other metabolic consequences which are bad for your health.

“What this study does possibly suggest is that dietary intake and behaviours associated with sedentary behaviour such as unhealthy snacking may be a better indicator of obesity rather than time spent being sedentary.

“We know obesity is considered one of the greatest health challenges of the twenty first century so further research into the factors that cause it is needed.”

(Source: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition: Medical Research Council: September 2008)