Habitual sedentary time and stationary time are inversely related to aerobic fitness

A one metabolic-equivalent-of-task increase in peak aerobic fitness (peak MET) is associated with a clinically relevant improvement in survival risk and all-cause mortality. The co-dependent impact of free-living physical behaviours on aerobic fitness are poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of theoretically re-allocating time spent in physical behaviours on aerobic fitness. We hypothesized that substituting sedentary time with any physical activity (at any intensity) would be associated with a predicted improvement in aerobic fitness. Peak volume rate of oxygen uptake ($\dot{V}$O₂peak) was assessed via indirect calorimetry during a progressive, maximal cycle ergometer protocol in 103 adults (52 females; [38 ± 21] years; [25.0 ± 3.8] kg/m²; $\dot{V}$O₂peak: [35.4 ± 11.5] ml·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹). Habitual sedentary time, standing time, light- (LPA), moderate- (MPA), and vigorous-physical activity (VPA) were assessed 24-h/day via thigh-worn inclinometry for up to one week (average: [6.3 ± 0.9] days). Isotemporal substitution modelling examined the impact of replacing one physical behaviour with another. Sedentary time (β = −0.8, 95% CI: [-1.3, −0.2]) and standing time (β = −0.9, 95%CI: [−1.6, −0.2]) were negatively associated with $\dot{V}$O₂peak, whereas VPA was positively associated with relative $\dot{V}$O₂peak (β = 9.2, 95%CI: [0.9, 17.6]). Substituting 30-min/day of VPA with any other behaviour was associated with a 2.4–3.4 higher peak MET. Higher standing time was associated with a lower aerobic fitness. As little as 10-min/day of VPA predicted a clinically relevant 0.8–1.1 peak MET increase. Theoretically, replacing any time with relatively small amounts of VPA is associated with improvements in aerobic fitness.