The disparate burden of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) faced by Black individuals makes attention
to preventing or delaying the development of T2D and its associated cardiovascular (CV)
complications, essential.
Similar to differences in cardiovascular disease (CVD) rates across racial and ethnic
groups of older people, there are differences in engagement in physical activity (PA), a
significant contributor to CVD. Black adults are less likely to engage in physical
activity PA than their non-Hispanic White peers, with 26.7% of Black Minnesotans
reporting that they did not engage any leisure-time PA in the past month, compared to
19.6% of non-Hispanic White Minnesotans. Notably, recent research has demonstrated that
high amounts SB (i.e., sitting or lying with low levels of energy expenditure) also have
significant detrimental effects on health, beyond those of physical inactivity.
Experimental data from lab-based studies demonstrate that breaking up prolonged SB can
rapidly improve markers of cardiometabolic risk (e.g., glucose and endothelial function)
but the majority of these studies have focused on young, healthy, White adults. Given the
significant inequities and health disparities faced by Black individuals and the lack of
adequate representation of Black older adults in studies examining SB in individuals with
T2D, understanding psychosocial and societal contributors to and consequences of SB
experienced by this population is an essential first step toward developing relevant
interventions targeting SB, and ultimately, CV health.
The disparate burden of T2D faced by Black individuals makes attention to preventing or
delaying the development of T2D and its associated CV complications, essential.
Similar to differences in CVD rates across racial and ethnic groups of older people,
there are differences in engagement in physical activity (PA), a significant contributor
to CVD. Black adults are less likely to engage in PA than their non-Hispanic White peers,
with 26.7% of Black Minnesotans reporting that they did not engage any leisure-time PA in
the past month, compared to 19.6% of non-Hispanic White Minnesotans. Notably, recent
research has demonstrated that high amounts SB (i.e., sitting or lying with low levels of
energy expenditure) also have significant detrimental effects on health, beyond those of
physical inactivity. Experimental data from lab-based studies demonstrate that breaking
up prolonged SB can rapidly improve markers of cardiometabolic risk (e.g., glucose and
endothelial function) but the majority of these studies have focused on young, healthy,
White adults. Given the significant inequities and health disparities faced by Black
individuals and the lack of adequate representation of Black older adults in studies
examining SB in individuals with T2D, understanding psychosocial and societal
contributors to and consequences of SB experienced by this population is an essential
first step toward developing relevant interventions targeting SB, and ultimately, CV
health.
The goal is to develop a deeper understanding of individuals' experiences of sedentary
behavior (SB) and collaborate to design strategies to reduce SB. Using the Center for
Chronic Disease Reduction and Equity Promotion Across Minnesota (C2DREAM) conceptual
model, social-ecological framework, and COM-B model, the study will seek to understand
the relationship between SB and individual, relationship, community, and societal
factors. The study will also examine the context of SB and strategies that participants
have used and could or would consider using to break up the time they spend sitting.