Cardiorespiratory fitness not sedentary time or physical activity is associated with cardiometabolic risk in active older adults

Sedentary time (ST) and moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity (MVPA) are associated with cardiometabolic health. Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is also implicated but often overlooked in health recommendations. This study assessed the relationships betweenST,MVPA,CRF, and cardiometabolic health in highly active older individuals. 125 healthy amateur cyclists aged 55 to 79 years had theirSTandMVPAlevels assessed by actigraphy over a 7‐day period.CRFwas assessed using a maximal effort cycle ergometry test to determineVO2maxwith results normalized to both body mass and fat‐free mass measured byDXA. Markers of cardiometabolic risk (blood glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol,HDL,LDL, Insulin,HOMA IR, blood pressure, and body fat) were assessed and used to determine cumulative cardiometabolic risk. Multiple linear regression was used to assessST,MVPA, andCRFassociations with cardiometabolic health with the relationship between activity levels andCRFdetermined.CRFwas associated with training volume (P = .003), but notSTorMVPA. A highCRFwas associated with lower cumulative cardiometabolic risk, body fat percentage, triglyceride, andHDLlevels (P < .05 in all cases).MVPAwas negatively associated with body fat percentage, whileSTwas not associated with any marker of cardiometabolic risk when adjusting for activity levels. An association betweenCRFand cardiometabolic risk even in a group of older individuals with high fitness levels highlights the importance thatCRFmay have in maintaining health.