The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between weekly physical activity patterns, obesity and early sub-clinical cardiovascular dysfunction.

For this study, 84 healthy lifelong non-smoking, normotensive subjects (54 male & 30 female) were recruited (age 39±11 years, BMI 25.2±3.3 kg.m²). Weekly physical activity levels were objectively measured over a five day period using triaxial accelerometry (RT3, Stayhealthy, USA). Activity data was categorized as relative time spent being sedentary, lightly active, moderately active and vigorously active¹. Body fat composition was estimated using bioelectrical impedance (TBF410GS, Tanita, UK). Augmentation index (AIx, Sphygmacor, Skidmore Medical, UK) and pulse wave velocity (PWV, Vicorder, Skidmore Medical, UK), indices of arterial stiffness, were measured using applanation tonometry. Early/late mitral valve filling velocity (MV E/A) was used to assess cardiac diastolic function (Vivid 7 Dimension, GE, USA).

Mean AIx, PWV, MV E/A ratio, body fat composition were 13.43±14.32 %, 6.79±0.93 m.s⁻¹, 5.11±13.23 and 24.54±7.70 %. Spearman’s correlation analysis identified significant correlations between relative time spent being sedentary and AIx r = 0.3008 p < 0.0054, PWV r = 0.2174 p < 0.0469, MV E/A ratio r = −0.3541 p < 0.027 and % body fat r = 0.3440 p < 0.0017.

The results of the study show that people who spend more time being sedentary have greater body fat, greater arterial stiffness and poorer diastolic function. These observations have important implications for public health.