Association between accelerometer-measured physical activity, glucose metabolism, and waist circumference in older adults.

Abstract Aims To examine the association of physical activity (PA) and sedentary time (ST) with glucose metabolism according to waist circumference (WC) in older people. Methods A population-based sample of 702 individuals (aged 67–70 years) wore wrist-worn accelerometers for two weeks and underwent an oral glucose tolerance test. The associations between moderate-to-vigorous (MVPA) and light (LPA) PA, ST, and glucose metabolism across the tertiles of WC were analysed using general linear regression. Results Among highest WC tertile, LPA negatively associated with fasting insulin (β =  − 0.047, 95% CI − 0.082 to − 0.012), HOMA-IR (β =  − 0.098, 95% CI − 0.184 to − 0.012), and HOMA-β (β =  − 3.367, CI − 6.570 to − 0.783). ST associated with 120 min glucose (β = 0.140, CI 0.021 to 0.260). Among lowest WC tertile, MVPA negatively associated with 30 min insulin (β =  − 0.086, 95% CI − 0.168 to − 0.004) and 120 min insulin (β =  − 0.160, 95% CI − 0.257 to − 0.063) and positively associated with Matsuda index (β = 0.076, 95% CI 0.014 to 0.139). Light PA negatively associated with 120 min insulin (β =  − 0.054, 95% CI − 0.104 to − 0.005). Conclusion With the limitation of the cross-sectional study, reducing ST and increasing LPA may be beneficial for glucose metabolism among abdominally obese older adults. Lean older adults could benefit more from increasing MVPA.