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Enhanced muscle activity during interrupted sitting improves glycemic control in overweight and obese men
Randomised four-arm crossover in 18 young men with overweight or obesity: during 8.5 h prolonged sitting, frequent 3-min walking or squatting breaks every 45 min produced lower postprandial glucose net iAUC than a single 30-min walk when total energy expenditure was matched—suggesting break frequency and muscle recruitment pattern matter beyond energy alone.
Design
- Participants: 18 men (21 ± 1 y; BMI ~29 kg/m²)
- Crossover arms: SIT (uninterrupted 8.5 h), ONE (30 min walk at 4 km/h once), WALK (3 min walks q45 min ×10), SQUAT (3 min squat breaks q45 min ×10)
- Primary metric: net incremental AUC (netiAUC) for interstitial glucose across the day
Glucose netiAUC (mmol·L⁻¹·h; abstract 95% CI)
- SIT: 10.2 (6.3–11.7)
- ONE: 9.2 (8.0–10.4) — lower than SIT (p < 0.05)
- WALK / SQUAT: 7.9 (6.4–9.3) each — lower than SIT and lower than ONE (p < 0.05)
Mechanism hint
Authors associate larger reductions with higher quadriceps / gluteal EMG amplitude during sit-to-activity transitions.
Evidence hygiene
Young men, single-day acute crossover—pair with T2D “break sitting” RCTs (Dempsey, Duvivier) and standing-only null trials (Altenburg) before prescribing office policy.
Publication
Gao Y, Li QY, Finni T, Pesola AJ. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2024 Apr;34(4):e14628. PMID 38629807.
Outcomes
- Glucose netiAUC (mmol/L/h): uninterrupted sitting 10.2 (95% CI 6.3–11.7) vs frequent 3-min walking breaks 7.9 (6.4–9.3) and squat breaks 7.9 (6.4–9.3); both break patterns lower than single 30-min walk arm 9.2 (8.0–10.4) (p < 0.05 vs SIT and vs ONE).