Objectively quantified physical activity and sedentary behavior in predicting visceral adiposity and liver fat

<b>Objective</b>\ud \ud - Epidemiologic studies suggest an inverse relationship between <i>nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)</i>, <i>visceral adipose tissue (VAT)</i>, and self-reported physical activity levels. However, subjective measurements can be inaccurate and prone to reporter bias.We investigated whether objectively quantified physical activity levels predicted liver fat and <i>VAT</i> in overweight/obese adults.\ud \ud <b>Methods</b>\ud \ud - Habitual physical activity was measured by triaxial accelerometry for four days (n = 82). Time spent in sedentary behavior (MET < 1.6) and light (MET 1.6 < 3), moderate (MET 3 < 6), and vigorous (MET 6 < 9) physical activity was quantified. Magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy were used to quantify visceral and liver fat. Bivariate correlations and hierarchical multiple regression analyses were performed. \ud \ud <b>Results</b>\ud \ud - There were no associations between physical activity or sedentary behavior and liver lipid. Sedentary behavior and moderate and vigorous physical activity accounted for just 3% of variance for <i>VAT</i> (p = 0.14) and 0.003% for liver fat (p = 0.96). Higher levels of <i>VAT</i> were associated with time spent in moderate activity (r = 0.294, p = 0.007), but there was no association with sedentary behavior. Known risk factors for obesity-related <i>NAFLD</i> accounted for 62% and 40% of variance in <i>VAT</i> and liver fat, respectively (p < 0.01). \ud \ud <b>Conclusion</b>\ud \ud - Objectively measured levels of habitual physical activity and sedentary behavior did not influence <i>VAT</i> or liver fat