A significant study led by the University of Hong Kong, in collaboration with the MRC Epidemiology Unit at the University of Cambridge, delves into the potential health advantages of substituting sedentary time (such as sitting) with physical activity.
The study explores how this shift may help prevent coronary heart disease, even when individuals have varying genetic predispositions to the condition.
Sedentary Time and Heart Disease
Sedentary behavior, characterized by extended periods of sitting or inactivity, is a recognized risk factor for various health issues, including heart disease.
The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes the importance of reducing sedentary behavior to maintain optimal cardiovascular health.
However, it remains unclear whether replacing sedentary time with physical activity offers the same benefits for individuals with different levels of genetic risk for coronary heart disease.
The Research Approach
This study analyzed extensive data, including genetic and lifestyle factors, from the UK Biobank study, a large prospective cohort study comprising over 500,000 adults.
Among the participants, 77,500 white British individuals were selected for this analysis. These individuals had not experienced cardiovascular events, and their sedentary behavior and physical activity were measured using wearable devices.
The research yielded three primary findings:
Sedentary Time and Risk: Greater sedentary time, as measured by wearable devices, was associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease, regardless of one’s genetic predisposition to the condition.
Substituting Sedentary Time: Replacing 60 minutes per day of sedentary time with an equivalent amount of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity resulted in approximately a 9% lower relative risk of coronary heart disease.
Remarkably, even replacing just one minute per day of sedentary time with one minute per day of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was associated with a less than 1% lower relative risk of coronary heart disease across all genetic risk levels.
Genetic Risk and Physical Activity: Individuals at higher genetic risk for coronary heart disease may experience more substantial reductions in their absolute risk of developing the condition by substituting physical activity for sedentary time compared to those at lower genetic risk.
Implications and Future Research
Dr. Youngwon Kim, the lead researcher, highlights the significance of the findings. He emphasizes that replacing sedentary time with physical activity plays a vital role in preventing coronary heart disease, irrespective of one’s genetic risk.
Additionally, individuals with a higher genetic risk may experience greater absolute risk reductions through this lifestyle change.
The study’s authors believe that these insights could shape future WHO guidelines on physical activity.
They also note the importance of further research to explore the interaction between genetics and physical activity, particularly in East Asian populations.
In conclusion, this study underscores the power of lifestyle interventions, such as replacing sitting time with physical activity, in promoting cardiovascular health.
It highlights the potential for individuals to mitigate their risk of coronary heart disease through these simple yet effective changes, regardless of their genetic predisposition.
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The research findings can be found in the Journal of Internal Medicine.
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