Associations between Objectively Determined Physical Activity and Cardiometabolic Health in Adult Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

SIMPLE SUMMARY: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the association between objectively measured physical activity and cardiometabolic health in adult women. After searching four databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and the Cochrane library), 23 eligible studies were included (n = 2105). An accelerometer or pedometer determined physical activities (daily steps, total physical activity, minutes engaged in physical activities at different intensities, and the number of physical activity bouts) and cardiometabolic health indicators (blood pressure, lipids, carbohydrate metabolism, insulin, inflammation markers, and metabolic syndrome) were examined in adult women. Overall, it is compelling that being more physically active has favorable effects on the metabolic syndrome. However, the majority of individual cardiometabolic biomarkers hardly improved following increases in physical activity, with the exception that moderate-intensity physical activity appeared to have a more potent effect on high-density lipoprotein. Although higher-intensity physical activity is more effective for women, it is most important to increase the total volume of physical activity. Meanwhile, strategies to improve body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness are required, since these play an important role in mediating the association between physical activity and cardiometabolic health in women. ABSTRACT: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to qualitatively synthesize and quantitatively assess the evidence of the relationship between objectively determined volumes of physical activity (PA) and cardiometabolic health in women. Four databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and the Cochrane library) were searched and, finally, 24 eligible studies were included, with a total of 2105 women from eight countries. A correlational meta-analysis shows that moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) was favorably associated with high-density lipoprotein (r = 0.16; 95% CI: 0.06, 0.25; p = 0.002); however, there was limited evidence for the effects of most of the other cardiometabolic biomarkers recorded from steps, total physical activity, light- and moderate-intensity physical activity and MVPA. It is most compelling and consistent that being more physically active is beneficial to the metabolic syndrome. Overall, PA levels are low in adult women, suggesting that increasing the total volume of PA is more important than emphasizing the intensity and duration of PA. The findings also indicate that, according to the confounding effects of body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness, meeting the minimal level of 150 min of moderate-intensity physical activity recommended is not enough to obtain a significant improvement in cardiometabolic indicators. Nonetheless, the high heterogeneity between studies inhibits robust conclusions.