Effects of Breaking Up Sitting on Gut Hormone Responses and Subsequent Compensatory Behaviors in Physically Inactive Adults

Introduction The effects of breaking up sitting on gut hormone responses and free-living energy compensatory behaviors are still unclear in people of Asian ethnicity. Methods Twenty-six Asians including 13 lean individuals (Lean) and 13 individuals with centrally overweight/obesity (OW), aged between 20 and 45 yr, completed a randomized crossover study with either 5.5-h uninterrupted sitting (SIT) or 5.5-h sitting with 2-min walking at 6.4 km·h-1 every 20 min (ACTIVE) in the laboratory. Blood samples were collected at regular time points to examine postprandial glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), peptide YY (PYY), and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) concentrations. Free-living physical activity and energy intake were recorded using wearable devices and weighed food diaries outside the laboratory until midnight. Paired t-tests were conducted to compare responses between trials. Results Postprandial GLP-1 and PYY incremental area under the curve values were higher in the ACTIVE trial versus SIT in both Lean and OW groups (all, P < 0.05), but there was no difference in GIP in either group (both, P > 0.05). There were no differences in free-living physical activity (volume and intensity) or energy intake (total and macronutrients) between trials in either group (all, P > 0.05), resulting in greater total physical activity over the 24-h monitoring period in ACTIVE trial versus SIT trial (both, P < 0.05). Conclusions Breaking up sitting increases postprandial GLP-1 and PYY concentrations in Asians, but does not induce subsequent behavioral compensation, resulting in greater 24-h physical activity levels and lower relative energy intake, in inactive individuals irrespective of bodyweight status.