Among children with overweight or obesity, interrupting sitting with brief moderate-intensity walking improved glucose metabolism without significantly increasing energy intake, a recent study found. Overweight/obese children aged 7-11 years underwent 2 experimental conditions in random order: prolonged sitting (3 hours of continuous sitting) and interrupted sitting (3 minutes of moderate-intensity walking at 80% of ventilatory threshold every 30 minutes for 3 hours). Insulin, C-peptide, and glucose were measured every 30 minutes for 3 hours during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Each session was followed by a buffet meal. Primary outcomes were differences in OGTT hormones and substrates and in buffet meal intake by condition. Researchers found:

• Among 35 children with complete data, mixed-model results identified lower insulin and C-peptide in the interrupted condition.
• The intervention reduced insulin area under the curve (AUC) by 21% and C-peptide AUC by 18% and improved estimated insulin sensitivity.
• Neither buffet total energy intake nor macronutrient composition of the meal differed significantly between conditions.