Association between physical activity and abnormal glucose metabolism—A population-based cross-sectional study in China

Background Association between physical activity and abnormal glucose metabolism (AGM) remains unclear. Methods Data were collected from a random sample of the Chinese population aged 26–77 years. Participants were classified into an AGM group or a normal glucose tolerance (NGT) group. Total physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE), sedentary time, and ratios of PAEE in different domains to the total PAEE were calculated according to the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to analyze the associations between total PAEE, ratios of PAEE under different domains to total PAEE, sedentary time, and AGM. Results Data from 3510 participants aged 50 ± 12 years were analyzed; 1390 (39.6%) were diagnosed with AGM. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, total PAEE (1000 MET-min/week) was significantly associated with AGM [OR (95% CI) 0.96 (0.94, 0.99)]. After stratification by sex and BMI, total PAEE was negatively associated with AGM in men and overweight people. The ratios of PAEE in different domains to total PAEE or sedentary time were not associated with AGM. Conclusions Total PAEE was negatively associated with AGM. Ratios of PAEE in different domains to total PAEE and sedentary time were not associated with AGM in this Chinese population.