title: Lifestyle Behaviors in Metabolically Healthy and Unhealthy Overweight and Obese Women: A Preliminary Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few studies have examined dietary data or objective measures of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior among metabolically healthy overweight/obese (MHO) and metabolically unhealthy overweight/obese (MUO). Thus, the purpose is to determine whether PA, sedentary behavior and/or diet differ between MHO and MUO in a sample of young women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-six overweight/obese (BMI ≥25 kg/m2) African American and Caucasian women 19-35 years were classified by cardiometabolic risk factors, including elevated blood pressure, triglyceride, glucose and C-reactive protein, low high density lipoprotein, and insulin resistance (MUO ≥2; MHO, <2). Time (mins/day) in light, moderate, vigorous PA, and sedentary behavior were estimated using an accelerometer (≥3 days; ≥8 hrs wear time). Questionnaires were used to quantify sitting time, TV/computer use and usual daily activity. The Block Food Frequency Questionnaire assessed dietary food intake. Differences between MHO and MUO for lifestyle behaviors were tested with linear regression (continuous data) or logistic regression (categorical data) after adjusting for age, race, BMI, smoking and accelerometer wear and/or total kilocalories, as appropriate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women were 26.7±4.7 years, with a mean BMI of 31.1±3.7 kg/m2, and 61% were African American. Compared to MUO (n = 9), MHO (n = 37; 80%) spent less mins/day in sedentary behavior (difference: -58.1±25.5, p = 0.02), more mins/day in light PA (difference: 38.2±16.1, p = 0.02), and had higher daily METs (difference: 0.21±0.09, p = 0.03). MHO had higher fiber intakes (g/day of total fiber, soluble fiber, fruit/vegetable fiber, bean fiber) and daily servings of vegetables; but lower daily dairy servings, saturated fat, monounsaturated fat and trans fats (g/day) compared to MUO.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared to MUO, MHO young women demonstrate healthier lifestyle habits with less sedentary behavior, more time in light PA, and healthier dietary quality for fat type and fiber. Future studies are needed to replicate findings with larger samples that include men and women of diverse race/ethnic groups.
authors.affiliation: Exercise and Health Sciences Department, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
authors.forename: Sarah M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Camhi
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, Recreation, and Sport Studies, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, United States of America.
authors.forename: Scott E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Crouter
authors.affiliation: Office of Vice Provost for Research, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
authors.forename: Laura L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Hayman
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
authors.forename: Aviva
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Must
authors.affiliation: JM USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
authors.forename: Alice H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Lichtenstein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000523:psychology*; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D055815:Young Adult