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The Descriptive Epidemiology of Sedentary Behaviour

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Sedentary Behaviour Epidemiology

Part of the book series: Springer Series on Epidemiology and Public Health ((SSEH))

Abstract

Relative to the overall increase in sedentary behaviour and sitting-related publications, only a small proportion has focused on estimating the prevalence of sedentary behaviour in populations. Although several studies examined the correlates or factors associated with sedentary behaviours, few consistent correlates have been reported. This chapter summarizes recent evidence on the prevalence of sedentary behaviour among adults and children, comprising 39 large and population-representative studies published between 2012 and 2016 for adults and 30 studies for children. Moreover, this chapter describes the correlates of sedentary behaviour for adults, older adults, and children derived from cross-sectional studies.

The median self-report of sedentary behaviours among adults was 5.5 h/day, but was more than 2 h/day longer for objectively measured sedentary behaviours (median 8.2 h/day). Reported television (TV) watching time showed a median of 2.2 h/day. The prevalence of sedentary behaviours among older adults was higher than among adults overall, especially when objectively measured. For children/adolescents, the total time averaged 8.1 h/day and increased from early childhood through adolescence. The average screen time was 2.9 h/day, exceeding recommended levels.

Studies on correlates of sedentary behaviour among adults showed that time spent sedentary increased with age, full-time occupation, and higher education. An inverse association was noted with TV time, which was more often reported by least advantaged adults. Sedentary behaviour also showed an inverse association with physical activity time and, for older adults, was associated with current co-morbidity and with perceived safety. Among children, sedentary behaviour increased with age, showed inverse associations with sleep time and physical activity, and was associated with domestic factors, such as parental regulation of screen time and the presence of a TV in the child’s bedroom.

In summary, high levels of sedentary behaviour are reported in populations of adults and children, with between a third and two-thirds in the presumed “high sitting” or at-risk sedentary behaviour level. Trend data are limited, but in 27 European countries, sedentary behaviour declined slightly between 2002 and 2013, indicating that, although high in prevalence, the problem may not be necessarily increasing in high income countries. Self-report estimates tend to underestimate sedentary behaviour time, suggesting the need for consistent objective measures in population studies. The distribution of, and correlates of sedentary behaviour are different to those for physical activities, which means that different population targets and strategies are needed to reduce sedentary behaviour time.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Charles Perkins Centre, Sydney University, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Adrian E. Bauman, Christina B. Petersen, Kim Blond & Louise L. Hardy

  2. School of Public Health, Sydney University, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Adrian E. Bauman, Christina B. Petersen, Kim Blond & Louise L. Hardy

  3. HUNT Study, Department of Public Health and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway

    Vegar Rangul

  4. Centre for Physical Activity Research, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Kim Blond

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  1. Adrian E. Bauman
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  4. Vegar Rangul
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  5. Louise L. Hardy
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Correspondence to Adrian E. Bauman .

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  1. Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Universität Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany

    Michael F. Leitzmann

  2. Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Universität Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany

    Carmen Jochem

  3. Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Universität Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany

    Daniela Schmid

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Bauman, A.E., Petersen, C.B., Blond, K., Rangul, V., Hardy, L.L. (2018). The Descriptive Epidemiology of Sedentary Behaviour. In: Leitzmann, M., Jochem, C., Schmid, D. (eds) Sedentary Behaviour Epidemiology. Springer Series on Epidemiology and Public Health. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-61552-3_4

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