Differences by sex in the association of physical activity level and sitting time with cardiometabolic risk in Mexican adults aged 20–59 years
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12820/rbafs.30e0413Keywords:
Body movement, Exercise, Cardiovascular risk, Sedentary behavior, Questionnaire, Vigorous activityAbstract
Introduction: There is a lack of research in middle-income countries about the relationship between physical activity, sedentary behavior, and cardiometabolic risk using representative samples. Objective: To determine whether physical activity level and sitting time are associated with cardiometabolic risk in Mexican adults. Methods: Data from the 2018 National Health and Nutrition Survey were analyzed (n = 9,797 participants, 59.1% were women). The independent variables were sitting time and five physical activity indicators: total volume (MET minutes/week), physical activity level (inactive, moderate, and vigorous), vigorous physical activity (minutes/week), moderate activity (minutes/week), compliance with the World Health Organization recommendation for physical activity, and walking time (minutes/week). Sitting time was analyzed in minutes/day. Cardiometabolic risk was assessed using measurements of blood pressure, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and insulin resistance. Poisson regression models were estimated. Results: In men (but not women), physical activity level and time engaged in vigorous or moderate physical activity were associated with a lower probability of cardiometabolic risk; whereas the opposite was true for sitting time. Physical activity volume, adherence to the World Health Organization recommendation, and walking were not associated with cardiometabolic risk. Conclusion: In men, physical activity may have a protective effect on cardiometabolic risk, whereas sitting time could be a risk factor.
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