SEDENTARY LIFESTYLE

- A sedentary lifestyle is one that involves very little or no physical exercise, wherein most of the
day is spent sitting, lying down, and expending very little energy. This type of lifestyle has
increased dramatically over the past few decades because of an increase in office jobs that
involve sitting, as well as an increase in commute times and screen time while off the job.
- Statistics: (WHO)
 Approximately 31% of the global population aged ≥15 years engages in insufficient
physical activity, and it is known to contribute to the death of approximately 3.2 million
people every year
 Americans spend 55% of their waking time (7.7 hours a day) engaged in sedentary
behaviors whereas Europeans spend 40% of their leisure time (2.7 hours a day) watching
television. Asians engage in 8.3 hours of sedentary time a day.
- Reasons:
 Environmental factors: traffic congestion, air pollution, shortage of parks or pedestrian
walkways, and a lack of sports or leisure facilities
 Technological advance: Television viewing, video viewing, and cell phone usage.
 Even though sedentary behavior poses a comparable risk to health and contributes to the
prevalence of various diseases, most physical activity-related education in clinical
practice is focused on improving the physical activity levels, with less emphasis on
lowering sedentary behavior.

- Effects: A sedentary lifestyle increase all causes of morality, double the risk of
 obesity
 type 2 diabetes
 some types of cancer
 cardiovascular disease
 early death
 Extended periods of inactivity can reduce metabolism and impair the body’s ability to control
blood sugar levels, regulate blood pressure, and break down fat.

 Mental health: A sedentary lifestyle also appears to have a negative impact on mental well-
being. The combination of the physical and mental impact to health makes a sedentary lifestyle
particularly problematic. One study with 10,381 participants associated a sedentary lifestyle and
lack of physical activity with a higher risk of developing a mental health disorder. A
recent review that included data from 110,152 participants found a link between sedentary
behavior and an increased risk of depression.