Activity isn't a big part of the day for the morbidly obese

Most people, safe to say, struggle to get their 10,000 steps in every day. But for the morbidly obese, that struggle is even tougher.

A new study published in the March issue of the journal Clinical Cardiology found that morbidly obese people — those with a body mass index of 40 or more — may be sedentary for more than 99% of the day, engaging in moderate exercise on average for only a brief time.

Despite being inactive for an average of about 23 hours and 52 minutes, the study participants managed to get in some activity. Over the course of about 8 1/2 minutes, they averaged 3,763 steps, and mean calorie expenditure was 2,668 calories per day. Each person wore a device on an arm for 72 hours that tracked movements and calorie expenditure. The biggest effort by one person was 28 minutes of moderate exercise, but 20% of the participants were sedentary the entire time.

Low levels of activity meant lower levels of cardiovascular health. Researchers found that the participants were at such a low fitness level that they were akin to people with Class II to Class IV levels of heart failure as classified by the New York Heart Assn.

A few things should be taken into consideration with this study. One, it was a very small sample of people — 10 — so results should be considered preliminary. Second, researchers said that the short study period might not have adequately reflected a standard daily routine. Also, wearing the armband sensor may have inspired participants to change normal habits.

Still, that 99% figure points out how far behind this population is in getting the recommended amount of exercise. It's also a wake-up call for people of every weight who don't move for the majority of the day.

— Jeannine Stein

Photo credit: David Duprey / Associated Press

Comments

[Brad F]

3800 steps in 8.5 minutes??? That would mean a little less than 1.5 miles, or thereabouts, in time frame listed. Not credible. I would want more data to explain.

[Sarah]

This makes NO sense. 8 and 1/2 minutes is the same as 510 seconds. Yet in those 510 seconds, they are taking 3763 steps. That is over 7 steps per second!