title: Accelerometer determined sedentary behavior and dietary quality among US adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Scant evidence exists pertaining to objectively measured sedentary time and dietary quality among adults. Therefore, we examined the relationships between sedentary time, physical activity, and dietary quality.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional analyses of a 4,910 US adults from two cycles (2003-2006) of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The primary independent variables were sedentary time and physical activity (continuous and categorical), while the outcomes were overall dietary quality (Healthy Eating Index (HEI) 2010), fruit and vegetable scores, and empty caloric intake (kcal).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multivariable analyses revealed that a 1min increase in daily sedentary behavior was associated with a 0.2kcal decrease in empty calories (-0.18, 95% CI=-0.34, -0.03); however, sedentary time was not significantly related to overall dietary quality (HEI) and fruit and vegetable intake. In comparison, a 1min increase in daily moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity was related to a 0.1 higher HEI score (0.08, 95% CI=0.04, 0.11), a 0.01 higher fruit score (0.01, 95% CI=0.01, 0.02), and conversely a 1.3kcal decrease in empty calories (-1.35, 95% CI=-2.01, -0.69). In addition, meeting physical activity guidelines was associated with a 2.8 point higher HEI score (2.82, 95% CI=1.40, 4.25), a 0.5 point higher fruit score (0.51, 95% CI=0.31-0.71), and 37.4 fewer empty calories (-37.43, 95% CI=-64.86, -9.10).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physical activity is significantly related to better overall dietary quality, while sedentary behavior is not. Findings suggest the need to promote physical activity and encourage adherence to dietary guidelines jointly, whereas sedentary behavior and overall dietary quality might need to be targeted independently.
authors.affiliation: Intramural Research Department, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA. Electronic address: kerem.shuval@cancer.org.
authors.forename: Kerem
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shuval
authors.affiliation: Intramural Research Department, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA.
authors.forename: Binh T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: The Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition, Omaha, NE 68114, USA.
authors.forename: Amy L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Yaroch
authors.affiliation: Intramural Research Department, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Drope
authors.affiliation: Divisions of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, Austin Regional Campus, University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, Austin, TX 78701, USA.
authors.forename: Kelley Pettee
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Gabriel
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D014481:United States; D014675:Vegetables; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Accelerometers; Dietary quality; Empty Calories; Fruit and Vegetable; Physical activity; Sedentary behavior