Abstract
Purpose
Physical activity (PA) and body fat percentage (%BF) are independently associated with arterial stiffness, but it has not been explored if there is an associative pathway among these variables. This study examined whether %BF mediates the relationship between PA or sedentary behavior levels with arterial stiffness.
Methods
Fifty adults (1:1 men:women; age 28 ± 11 year) had carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (CF-PWV) measured by applanation tonometry, %BF by bioelectrical impedance, and PA levels by accelerometry. Accelerometer data determined minutes per day spent in sedentary, light, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and Total PA.
Results
Pearson correlation indicated statistically significant associations among age, %BF, CF-PWV, MVPA, and Total PA (r = 0.34–0.65, p < 0.05). Sedentary and light PA were not associated with CF-PWV. Mediation analysis indicated significant total effects of MVPA (β = − 0.34, p = 0.044) and age (β = 0.65, p < 0.001) on CF-PWV. %BF mediated the relationship between Total PA and CF-PWV due to indirect effect of Total PA on %BF (β = − 0.34, p = 0.02) and %BF on CF-PWV (β = 0.44, p = 0.002), and partially mediated the relationship between age and CF-PWV (β = 0.54, p < 0.001). Total PA retained its significant effect on %BF (β = − 0.28, p = 0.04) and the effect of %BF on CF-PWV remained significant (β = 0.26, p = 0.03), despite age having a significant effect on both %BF (β = 0.31, p = 0.023) and CF-PWV (β = 0.54, p < 0.001).
Conclusions
%BF mediated the relationship between Total PA and arterial stiffness, even after accounting for age. Engagement in more Total PA may help to reduce %BF, resulting in decreased arterial stiffness.
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Data availability statement
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, BKB, upon resonable request.
Abbreviations
- %BF:
-
Body fat percentage
- CF-PWV:
-
Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity
- MVPA:
-
Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity
- PA:
-
Physical activity
- Total PA:
-
Light and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity
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Ballenger, B.K., Carter, S.L., Norman, G. et al. Physical activity and arterial stiffness: is body fat a mediator?. Eur J Appl Physiol 124, 527–535 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-023-05296-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-023-05296-z