Frequent Interruptions with Light-intensity Calisthenics Reduced Postprandial Hyperglycemia during Prolonged Sitting

Abstract

Individuals with high levels of sedentary time may have significantly increased the relative risk
of diabetes, cardiovascular events, cardiovascular mortality, and all-cause mortality,
respectively. This study examined the acute effects of interrupting prolonged sitting with lightintensity calisthenics on postprandial hyperglycemia in healthy adults. Thirty normoglycemic
university students participated in this research. Each participant consumed standard 75-grams
glucose. The treatment was divided into two trials. First, the control trial, the participants were
instructed to sit for five straight hours. The profile of changes in blood glucose was taken at an
interval of 30 minutes from minutes 0, 30, 90, 120, 180, 240, and 300. Second, the
experimental trial was the same with the control trial except that the participants did lightintensity calisthenics for 3 minutes then sit for 27 minutes, repeating this activity at the 30-
minute intervals. Data were analyzed using a paired T-test. The baseline data between trials
were not significantly different in some points of blood glucose recording. There was a
decrease in the blood glucose level of the experimental group. However, those decrements
were not significant statistically. This study found that interrupting sitting time with short
bouts of light-intensity calisthenics reduced postprandial hyperglycemia. However, this lightintensity activity reduced the postprandial hyperglycemia although not at a significant level.
Given these positive effects observed in healthy participants, it seems prudent to regularly
break periods of prolonged sitting with brief bouts of activity. Further study is recommended
on more frequent light-intensity bouts of exercise and shorter periods of uninterrupted sitting
and at a higher intensity.