Different sedentary behavior domains present distinct associations with eating-related indicators

Abstract

Abstract Background Unhealthful dietary patterns have been consistently associated with low levels of physical activity (PA), but studies dedicated to sedentary behavior (SB) are scarce, especially in adults. The few studies that investigated the association between SB and dietary patterns focused mostly on specific types of SB, such as TV-watching or screen time. SB can be accumulated in distinct domains (i.e., work, transport, and leisure-time), thus, it is key to investigate in depth the impact that different domains of SB can have on eating-related indicators. We aimed to investigate the associations between different SB domains and eating-related indicators, in a sample of adults. Methods Cross-sectional data from students, teachers, and staff from a Portuguese University was collected in November/2021 through an online survey. Data analyses were performed using the IBM SPSS software (version 28.0) and included descriptive statistics, partial correlations, and group comparisons using one-way ANOVA. Daily average SB at work/study, transport, and in leisure-time were self-reported and eating-related indicators were measured with several items from the Mediterranean Diet Score. Specific eating-related behaviors reflecting a protective eating pattern (e.g., eating breakfast regularly), and eating behavior traits (e.g., external eating) were also assessed. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated as weight/height2. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire/Short-Form was used to assess PA. Results The sample included 301 adults (60.1% women), with a mean age of 34.5 years. Leisure-time SB was inversely associated with adherence to the Mediterranean diet (r=-0.20; p < 0.001) and with a protective eating profile (r=-0.31; p < 0.001). Higher transport SB was also related to lower adherence to the Mediterranean diet (r=-0.20; p < 0.001) and to an unhealthier eating profile (r=-0.22; p < 0.001), but no associations were found for work-related SB (p > 0.05). These results persisted after the adjustment for BMI, age, sex, and self-reported PA. Conclusions These findings suggest that adults with higher levels of SB in leisure-time and transport domains tend to report less healthy eating-related behaviors, irrespective of BMI, age, sex, and PA level. This information may assist public health authorities in focusing their efforts and strategies on specific domains, thus promoting active forms of commuting, and reducing SB in the leisure setting.