Sitting time increases the overweight and obesity risk independently of walking time in elderly people from Spain

Introduction: Obesity, defined as an excess of total body fat, is a matter of concern all over the world, and its prevalence is still increasing among elderly people. Objectives: To examine whether sedentary behaviour (hours sitting per day) is associated with higher risk of central obesity, overweight-obesity and overfat in a representative sample of non-institutionalized Spanish elderly population and if so, whether hours walking per day modified this association. Study design: A cross-sectional study in a sample of 3136 people >= 65 years of age. Main outcomes measures: Anthropometric measurements were obtained using standardized techniques and equipment. Active and sedentary behaviours were recorded by questionnaire. Results: For both men and women, the higher prevalence of overweight-obesity, central obesity and overfat was found in those who spent sitting more than 4 h per day and walk less than 1 h, compared with those who spent sitting less than 4h per day and walk more than 1 h (all p < 0.001, except for central obesity in women). In men, more than 4h sitting per day was associated with 1.7-fold higher odds of having central obesity compared with those sitting less than 4 h per day (p < 0.01). In women, this sedentary behaviour increased the risk of overweight-obesity and overfat by 1.5 and 1.4, respectively (p < 0.01). Age or time spent walking did not significantly change these results. Conclusion: Sitting time increases the risk of overweight-obesity and overfat in women and the risk of central obesity in men, independently of walking time. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.