This study pioneers the use of compositional data analysis (CoDA) to examine how adolescents’ 24-hour activity behaviors—sleep, sedentary time, standing, light-intensity physical activity (LIPA), and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA)—collectively influence cardiometabolic health. Using device-based measures of activity behaviour, it reveals that theoretically reallocating time from sedentary behaviors to LIPA or standing improves blood pressure, fitness, and adiposity. These findings challenge the MVPA-only focus of current guidelines, supporting a more inclusive, achievable approach to youth health promotion. The research informs policy, clinical practice, and public health by emphasising the value of balanced daily movement patterns for adolescent well-being.
Gráinne Hayes, Leonard D. Browne, Kieran P. Dowd, Ciarán MacDonncha, Brian P. Carson, Helen Purtill, Matthew P. Herring, Eibhlís M. O’ Connor, Clodagh S. O’Gorman, Alan E. Donnelly, Adolescent Time Use and Cardiometabolic Health: A Cross-Sectional Compositional Analysis to Explore Associations Between 24-Hour Activity Behaviors and Biomarkers of Cardiometabolic Health, Journal of Adolescent Health, Volume 76, Issue 6, 2025, Pages 1043-1054, ISSN 1054-139X, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2025.01.020.
Associate Professor Gráinne Hayes is the Course Director for the MSc in Sports Performance at the Department of Physical Education & Sport Sciences in UL and a member of the Physical Activity for Health research group.
Email: grainne.hayes@ul.ie
Twitter: @Grainne Hayes
ORCID: ORCID
Linked In: Grainne Hayes | LinkedIn
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