1.

Definition of Sedentary Behaviour

1.1.1

Introduction

Sedentary behaviour (Latin: sedere: “to sit") comprises sitting during leisure time,

commuting, and in the workplace and household. Examples of sedentary behav-

iours are television (TV) viewing, video game playing,computer use, reading,

C. Jochem et al.

talking on the telephone, and sitting while commuting by automobile, bus,train,

plane,ferry,etc.Those activities show an energy expenditure between 1.0 and 1.5

metabolic equivalents (METs) [1]. Hence,sedentary behaviours comprise those

that involve sitting and a low amount of energy expenditure. Sedentary behaviour

epidemiology is the study of the distribution, determinants, and health conse-

quences of sedentary behaviours in the population. It examines the relations of

sedentary behaviour to diseases and other health conditions and seeks to identify

biological, psychosocial, environmental, and genetic factors that affect sedentary

behaviour. The knowledge acquired from sedentary behaviour epidemiology is

applied to intervention programmes for disease prevention and health promotion,

including population surveillance. The current section provides a conceptual defi-

nition of sedentary behaviour, making clear the distinction belween sedentary

behaviour (too much sitting) and physical inactivity (too litule exercise).
1.1.2 Is Too Much Sitting the Same as Too Little Exercise?

The past decade has witnessed a sizeable increase in research associated with the

health effects of sedentary behaviour. A growing body of epidemiologic evidence

now shows that persons who engage in a high volume of sedentary behaviour

exhibit increased risks of morbidity and mortality irrespective of their level of

moderate-to-vigorous physical activity [2]. In addition,it has been recognized that

the correlation between sedentary behaviour and moderate-to-vigorous physical

activity is low [3] and that an individual can accumulate substantial amounts of both

sedentary behaviour and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in the course of a

day [4]. For example, an office worker may spend long, uninterrupted blocks of

time sitting at a computer but then engage in a vigorous workout at the gym after

work. Also, time spent in sedentary behaviours shows correlates that are distinct

from those related to moderate-to-vigorous physical activity [5]. Thus, too much

sitting and too little physical activity represent fundamentally distinct concepts.

However, there have been inconsistencies in the literature regarding the defini-

tion of the term sedentary. In the sedentary behaviour literature,the term sedentary

typically describes “any waking behaviour characterized by an energy expenditure

＜1.5 metabolic equivalents (METs) while in a sitting or reclining posture"

［6]. Thus, an individual may be defined as sedentary if they exhibit a large volume

of sedentary behaviour. By comparison, in the exercise literature the term sedentary

has often been used to characterize the lack of some threshold of moderate-to-

vigorous physical activity [7].In that context,researchers frequently describe a

subject as sedentary because they do not achieve the physical activity recommen-

dations.For example,exercise studies may contain a "sedentary" control group

because of their absence of physical activity without having formally assessed their

amount of sedentary behaviour.

Acknowledging the divergent characteristics of sedentary behaviour and phys-

ical activity is particularly relevant for appropriate planning and implementation of

intervention studies [8]. Sedentary behaviour typically takes place in regular

prolonged bouts with infrequent breaks, typically in the evening and on weekends

（for domestic sedentary behaviour such as TV viewing) and on weekdays (for

occupational sedentary behaviour such as workplace sitting). It tends to be of

long duration, in bouts of 2-3 h for TV viewing and 6-7 h for workplace sitting.

It involves a low level of effort or conscious planning and is highly habitual.

Important determinants include social norms and the physical environment, such

as domestic and workplace furniture arrangements. By comparison,moderate-to-

vigorous physical activity often takes place in irregular intervals of short duration,

and it involves some level of effort and conscious planning. Determining factors

include individual-level motivation and a supportive physical environment. Thus,

while physical activity interventions typically place a focus on conscious decision

making, sedentary behaviour interventions might benefit from focusing on uncon-

scious decision making (9). Although interventions aimed at decreasing sedentary

behaviour and those targeted at increasing physical activity both share a common

objective of reducing the burden of chronic diseases in the population by promoting

enhanced levels of physical activity, sedentary behaviour interventions focus on

shifting a certain amount of participants' time spent sedentary to activities of light

intensity,whereas physical activity interventions are designed to encourage study

subjects to increase their amount of activities of moderate-to-vigorous intensity.

More detail on the differences between sedentary behaviour and physical activity is

provided in Sect. 15.2.

1.1.3 summary

The currebt section provides a conceptual definition of sedentary behavior, emphasizing the distinction
between sedentary behavior (to much sitting) and physical inactivity ( too little exercise) A high amount
of sedentary behavior may coexist with high levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity,and
correlates of time spent sedentary are distinct from those related to moderated-to-vigorous physical
aktivity.