Association Between a Comprehensive Movement Assessment and Metabolically Healthy Overweight Obese Adults

Physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior are associated with metabolic health in overweight and obese individuals. However, the role of comprehensive health-related movement guidelines on PA, recreational screen time, and sleep among Metabolically Healthy Overweight-Obese (MHO) individuals is unknown. We investigated differences in comprehensive movement assessment scores between adults classified as MHO or Non-MHO. The sample included 513 adults (46.2% male), aged 19 to 85 years, body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25, from cycle 2005–2006 of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Comprehensive movement assessment outcomes were defined as meeting modified 24-Hour Movement Guidelines criteria, with thresholds adapted for adults. 13.8% of participants were MHO (normal serum glucose, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure). Only 1.4% of MHO participants met all guidelines. MHO and Non-MHO participants had similar comprehensive movement assessment scores (MHO: 18.3% vs. Non-MHO: 10.9%; p = 0.072). MHO individuals had less continuous recreational screen time than Non-MHO individuals (1.8 ± 1.4 hrs/day vs. 2.5 ± 1.6 hrs/day; p < 0.001). Meeting the recreational screen time recommendation was the only variable associated with the MHO phenotype (OR:4.84 95%CI: 2.33–10.07). This association remained after adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, education, and BMI (OR: 3.53 95%CI: 1.72–7.24). Our results suggest the importance of limiting recreational screen time in adults to optimize cardiometabolic risk profile in individuals living with overweight or obesity. Using movement guidelines with a screen time component to assess the risk associated with health outcomes in adults appears to provide a better assessment.