To investigate the sedentary behavior of middle-aged and elderly non-diabetic population in Lanzhou and explore its correlation with insulin resistance (IR).

A cluster random sampling method was used to select residents aged 40-75 years from the survey data of the "REACTION Study" conducted between 2014 and 2016 in Lanzhou. A total of 3 609 individuals who met the inclusion criteria were included in this study. The sedentary time was divided into <3 h/d, 3-5 h/d and ≥5 h/d groups. Insulin resistance was diagnosed using the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association between sedentary behavior and IR, while subgroup analysis explored this relationship among different population subgroups.

The average daily sedentary time for study population was found to be approximately 4.00±1.92 h/d, with an overall prevalence rate of IR at 25.0%. The prevalence rates of IR for those with a sedentary time <3 h/d, 3-5 h/d and ≥5 h/d were observed as follows: 21.7%, 24.9% and 31%, respectively, with statistically significant differences (χ²=24.447, P<0.05). After adjusting for various confounding factors through logistic regression analysis, it was revealed that compared with sedentary <3 h/d, sedentary ≥5 h/d was a risk factor for the prevalence of IR (OR=1.468, 95% CI:1.168-1.845, P<0.05). Subgroup analysis indicated that only within subgroups consisting of individuals aged≥65 years old (OR=1.060,95% CI:1.005-1.118), insufficient physical activity (OR=1.071, 95% CI:1.017-1.128), hyperlipidemia (OR=1.071,95% CI:1.001-1.145), no hyperuricemia (OR=1.062, 95% CI:1.010-1.117), fatty liver (OR=1.133, 95% CI:1.038-1.237), and WC≥85 cm (OR=1.079, 95% CI:1.017-1.144), increased sedentary time was associated with increased risk of IR (all P<0.05).

Sedentary behavior is positively associated with the occurrence of IR in middle-aged and elderly non-diabetic population.However, the findings may vary across populations with distinct characteristics.