Combined effect of sedentary behavior and physical activity on body composition: a cross-sectional study among university students
Havana Charles, Sheyla Cortes-Leyva, Bruna Lynch
Introduction: Non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT) is an important component of daily energy expenditure and can be considered a crucial factor for weight control. There is compelling evidence on the inverse association between total physical activity (PA) and percent body fat, however, the findings on the association between sedentary behavior (SB) and body composition are still controversial.
Objective: The purpose of this study is to examine the association between accelerometer-measured SB, PA, and body composition among university students.
Methods: The sample will consist of undergraduate university students, ages 18-20 years, enrolled in a University in the Southern region of the United States (Lander University, Greenwood, SC). Participants will be allocated into three groups: i) Activity (ACT): students participating in activity classes; ii) Wellness for Life (WFL): students enrolled in PEES 175 courses (Wellness for Life); iii) Control (CON): non-PEES students who are not enrolled in activity courses nor Wellness for Life courses. A sample size of 60 participants is expected (n= 20 participants per group). The ActiGraph GT3X+ triaxial accelerometer (ActiGraph, LLC, Pensacola, FL, USA) will be used to assess SB and PA. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and hydrostatic weighing (Exertech® Body Density Measurement System, Dresbach, MN) will be used to assess body composition. Independent and dependent variables will be checked for normality using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Comparison between groups will be performed using independent sample t-tests for continuous variables and chi-square tests for categorical data. Binary logistic regression analysis will be conducted between independent and dependent variables. The level of significance will be set at 5% and analyses will be conducted using the SPSS software (IBM SPSS Statistics, version 26).
Expected Results: We hypothesize that reduced SB (e.g., screen viewing, smartphone use, and computer playing) combined with higher levels of leisure-time PA will be associated with better body composition.
Havana Charles graduated from North Myrtle Beach High School in Little River, SC. She is a junior in the exercise science program with an emphasis on sports physical therapy and is on the Lander Women’s Lacrosse Team. She has earned the women’s lacrosse academic award, received the Joe V. Chandler scholarship, a member of Somos LU and the PEES club, is currently engaged in two research projects in the PEES department with Dr. Lynch and Dr. Barfield, and is a future tutor for exercise science courses.
Sheyla Cortes graduated from Greenville Senior High School in Greenville, SC. and is now a member of the Honors College at Lander University. She is currently a junior pursuing a BS in exercise science, and she plans to go to graduate school to become an occupational therapist.