Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity with accelerometry is associated with visceral adipose tissue in adults.
BACKGROUND
We examined the relation between objectively measured physical activity with accelerometry and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) in a community-based sample.


RESULTS
We evaluated 1249 participants of the Framingham Third Generation and Omni II cohorts (mean age 51.7 years, 47% women) who underwent assessment of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) with accelerometry over 5 to 7 days, and multi-detector computed tomography for measurement of SAT and VAT volume; fat attenuation was estimated by SAT and VAT hounsfield units (HU). In women, higher levels of MVPA were associated with decreased SAT (P<0.0001) and VAT volume (P<0.0001). The average decrement in VAT per 30 minute/day increase in MVPA was -453 cm(3) (95% CI -574, -331). The association was attenuated but persisted upon adjustment for BMI (-122 cm(3), P=0.002). Higher levels of MVPA were associated with higher SAT HU (all P≤0.01), a marker of fat quality, even after adjustment for SAT volume. Similar findings were observed in men but the magnitude of the association was less. Sedentary time was not associated with SAT or VAT volume or quality in men or women.


CONCLUSIONS
MVPA was associated with less VAT and SAT and better fat quality.
Department of Medicine, Section of General Internal Medicine, Section of Preventive Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA (J.M.M., R.S.V.) National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA (J.M.M., A.P., J.M.M., R.S.V., S.J.B., C.S.F.).
Joanne M
JM
Murabito
National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA (J.M.M., A.P., J.M.M., R.S.V., S.J.B., C.S.F.).
Alison
A
Pedley
National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA (J.M.M., A.P., J.M.M., R.S.V., S.J.B., C.S.F.) Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA (J.M.M.).
Joseph M
JM
Massaro
Department of Medicine, Section of General Internal Medicine, Section of Preventive Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA (J.M.M., R.S.V.) National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA (J.M.M., A.P., J.M.M., R.S.V., S.J.B., C.S.F.).
Ramachandran S
RS
Vasan
School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, UK (D.E.).
Dale
D
Esliger
National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA (J.M.M., A.P., J.M.M., R.S.V., S.J.B., C.S.F.).
Susan J
SJ
Blease
Department of Cardiac MR PET CT & Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA (U.H.).
Udo
U
Hoffman
National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA (J.M.M., A.P., J.M.M., R.S.V., S.J.B., C.S.F.) Division of Intra-mural Research and the Center for Population Studies, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Framingham, MA (C.S.F.) Division of Endocrinology & Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA (C.S.F.).
Caroline S
CS
Fox
D056044:Actigraphy; D050154:Adiposity; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009929:Organ Size; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D012737:Sex Factors; D050151:Subcutaneous Fat / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors
accelerometry; physical activity; visceral adipose tissue