The increase in sedentary lifestyle since childhood is associated with greater arterial stiffness – an indicator of premature vascular damage. Light to moderate physical activity, however, can reduce the risk. This was the conclusion of a study conducted in collaboration between the University of Oxford and the Universities of Bristol and Exeter in England, and the University of Eastern Finland. The results were published in the scientific journal Acta Physiologica, last Thursday, 21.
The authors claim it is the largest and longest-running study tracking accelerometer-measured motor behavior and arterial stiffness in the world. To do this, they used data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), also known as Children of the 90s, from the University of Bristol, in which more than 14,000 children, born between April 1991 and December 1992, and their families, have been intensively observed for more than 25 years.
Extensive data collection
The current study, in turn, analyzed data from 1,339 children aged 11 to 24 years old. They wore accelerometer devices on their waist at ages 11, 15 and 24 for 4-7 days to measure displacement and time of physical activity, and had arterial stiffness measurements at ages 17 and 24.
In addition, their fasting blood samples were repeatedly measured for glucose, insulin, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. Blood pressure, heart rate, smoking status, socioeconomic position and family history of cardiovascular disease were taken into account in the analyses.
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Discoveries
Scientists found that the increase in “sedentary time” – that is, the time in which the person does not engage in any type of physical activity – from 6 to 9 hours daily increases arterial stiffness by 10%. They further estimate that 1 in 1000 teenagers has severe vascular damage.
This conclusion was obtained from the analysis of the velocity of the carotid-femoral pulse wave (PWV), used to measure arterial stiffness. If the increase of 3 hours of sedentary time per day accelerated this speed by 10%, the arteries also suffer consequences – in this case, hardening.
Impact of physical exercise
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On the other hand, Engaging in moderate-intensity physical activity for at least 3 hours a day reversed arterial stiffness and vascular damage. Vigorous physical activity did not reduce arterial stiffness, but increased it slightly, due to the physiological adaptation of the vascular wall caused by the increase in muscle mass. However, the increase in arterial stiffness induced by this exercise intensity was at least 3 times lower than that caused by sedentary time.
The authors also point out that it had already been found – using the same database, ALSPAC – that the increase in sedentary time between childhood and young adulthood from approximately 6 hours to 9 hours per day increased the chance of developing obesity, dyslipidemia, inflammation and heart enlargement. Arterial stiffness has been identified as a new risk factor for obesity in childhood and adolescence, insulin resistance, hypertension, metabolic syndrome and premature heart damage.
That is, the A sedentary lifestyle in childhood is more dangerous to health than previously thought. And so scientists recommend that public health experts, health policy makers, health journalists, pediatricians and parents encourage children to practice physical activity daily.
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