Owen, Neville. (2010, December).

Sedentary Behavior: Emerging Evidence for a New Health

Risk. The Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Retrieved from
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2996155/
In comparison to previous generations, Americans today live in an increasingly inactive society-whether it be sitting at work, typing away on the computer, or driving to all destinations. Neville
notes that people move less and sit more; there is a clear shift in lifestyle patterns that has
created a disturbing trend in American health and wellbeing. Neville outlines the decline in
high-energy input jobs, describing the greater increase in careers with little to no physical
movement. Furthermore, the rise in technology plays a monumental role in sedentary lifestyles,
as now more than 9 in 10 children (aged kindergarten- grade 12) use computers in schools.
Neville further clarifies the various levels of non-exercise-- ranging from sedentary behavior
(sitting, lying down) to light-intensity activity (standing, slow walking), and describes how the
increased lack of exercise creates health risks that clash with our evolutionary roots. Overall,
Neville outlines how our current downfall marks a disturbing trend in our nation and could
account for the increase in detrimental health ailments throughout our country.