Prevalence, trends, and correlates of sedentary behavior

Sedentary behavior is a growing public health concern. Engaging in sedentary behavior is detrimentally associated with a number of health risks and higher mortality. On average, adults spend over half of their waking hours sedentary while engaged in leisure, transport, and work. Over the past 50 years, sedentary time appears to have increased particularly through television viewing, travel by car, and use of technology; however, recent trends in car use may be stable or reversing in some developed countries. Segments of the population that engage in more sedentary leisure pursuits include older adults, non-workers, and those with lower educational attainment. In transport-related and occupational sitting, office workers who commute by car are more sedentary. The environments in which people live (their neighborhoods) and the work they do (desk bound or not) affect the amount of time people spend in sedentary behavior. Light-intensity physical activity seems to be a key behavioral determinant of sedentary time. Initiatives or settings that encourage light-intensity activity may help to reduce sedentary behavior. Further research examining prevalence, trends, and correlates of specific sedentary behaviors is needed in a wide range of countries to inform interventions aimed at reducing sedentary time.