A new study conducted by the Universities of Bristol and Exeter in the UK, along with the University of Eastern Finland, has found that spending more than six hours per day sedentary during childhood through young adulthood can lead to a 4 mmHg increase in systolic blood pressure. However, engaging in light physical activity (LPA) can help mitigate this rise in blood pressure. The results of the study were published in the Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle.
The study followed 2,513 children from the University of Bristol’s Children of the 90s cohort from age 11 until 24 years. Initially, the children spent six hours per day sedentary, six hours engaging in LPA, and approximately 55 minutes in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). By young adulthood, the sedentary time had increased to nine hours per day, while LPA decreased to three hours per day, and MVPA remained around 50 minutes per day.
The children’s average blood pressure at the start of the study was 106/56 mmHg, which rose to 117/67 mmHg in young adulthood, partly due to normal physiological development. A persistent increase in sedentary time from age 11 to 24 was associated with a 4 mmHg excess increase in systolic blood pressure. Engaging in LPA from childhood helped lower the final blood pressure level by 3 mmHg, while MVPA had no effect on blood pressure reduction.
Replacing 10 minutes of sedentary time with an equal amount of LPA every hour led to a decrease of 3 mmHg in systolic blood pressure and 2 mmHg in diastolic blood pressure in a simulation model. This reduction is significant as a 5 mmHg decrease in systolic blood pressure has been reported to decrease the risk of heart attack and stroke by ten percent, highlighting the importance of reducing sedentary behavior and increasing physical activity.
The study is the largest and longest follow-up of accelerometer-measured movement behavior and blood pressure progression in youth. Various factors such as blood samples for cholesterol and glucose levels, heart rate, family history of cardiovascular disease, smoking status, as well as fat and lean mass measurements were considered in the analyses. The research highlights the importance of identifying childhood sedentariness as a potential cause of elevated blood pressure, with LPA being an effective antidote.
The World Health Organization predicts that 500 million new cases of physical inactivity-related non-communicable diseases will occur by 2030, with half resulting from hypertension. Maintaining at least three hours of LPA per day is crucial in preventing and reversing elevated blood pressure and hypertension. Examples of LPA include long walks, household chores, swimming, and biking. Encouraging children and adolescents to participate in LPA is vital for maintaining healthy blood pressure levels, as emphasized by the study’s author, Andrew Agbaje.