Is the presence of sedentary behaviour or the absence of physical activity responsible for fat mass and appetite dysregulation? Preliminary results from the DAPHNE project.

Introduction: The objective was to investigate whether measures of appetite dysregulation were associated with sedentary time, physical activity, energy expenditure or fat mass. Several studies indicate sedentary behaviour is associated with obesity but most use questionnaire-based self-report measures of sedentary time. The present study employed an innovative validated device for the objective measurement of sedentary and active behaviour. Methods: Thirty participants took part in this cross-sectional study. Measures of body composition, health markers, cardiovascular fitness and resting metabolic rate, and appetite dysregulation were taken as well as 7days measurement of free-living physical activity and sedentary behaviour with the SenseWear Armband. Active energy expenditure was calculated by subtracting measured resting metabolic rate from total measured energy expenditure from the Armband. Results: Sedentary behaviour was positively correlated with multiple indices of adiposity. These associations disappeared when controlling for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). MVPA was negatively associated with fat mass. Physical activity and sedentary behaviour were not associated with indices of appetite dysregulation. TFEQ Disinhibition and Binge Eating were positively associated with indices of adiposity but not with lean mass. Active energy expenditure was negatively associated with sedentary time and positively associated with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Conclusion: The results suggest that the lack of MVPA may be more important than total sedentary time for the accumulation of body fat. Higher adiposity (but not sedentary time, physical activity or low energy expenditure) was associated with Disinhibition and Binge Eating (appetite dysregulation).