Abstract
The present commentary provides a brief overview of and reflections on the joint findings of two reviews of the present evidence regarding correlates, predictors and/or determinants of sedentary behavior among youth and older adults published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition & Physical Activity.In both reviews, the included studies were predominantly conducted in Europe, the US, and Australia. Most studies were limited to TV or ‘screen’ time rather than sedentary behavior and relied on self-report. In both age groups there is a lack of qualitative studies as well as studies looking into the more motivational and contextual potential determinants of sedentary behavior. Both reviews indicate that to date there is limited evidence on the determinants of sedentary behaviour in youth and older adults. In youth, age and weight status were identified as determinants of sedentary behavior, with more sedentary time among older and heavier kids. In adults, age and retirement were determinants, with older and retired elderly sitting more.
Highlights
Sedentary behavior refers to any waking behavior characterized by an energy expenditure ≤ 1.5 metabolic equivalent (MET) while in a sitting or reclining posture [1]
Within the Determinants of Diet and Physical Activity (DEDIPAC) joint action of the European Joint Programming Initiative ‘A Healthy Diet for a Healthy Life [8], a series of systematic and umbrella reviews has been or is being conducted within three thematic areas, i.e. regarding measurement of dietary, physical activity and sedentary behaviors; regarding policy and multilevel interventions to promote healthy behaviors; and to provide an overview of the evidence-base regarding potential determinants for behaviors that have not been reviewed recently. The latter was the case for determinants of sedentary behaviors, and three systematic reviews have been conducted to review the present evidence regarding correlates, predictors and/or determinants of sedentary behavior across the life span, i.e. among youth, adults and older adults. Two of these reviews –of research conducted among youth and older adults- are published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition & Physical Activity [9, 10] and in the present commentary we provide a brief overview of and reflections on the joint findings
Chastin and colleagues focused on older adults and included 22 studies in their review, almost all cross-sectional, observational studies. Their results for example show that older and retired elderly sit more. Both reviews reveal a lack of studies on true motivational and contextual potential determinants of sedentary behavior in these age groups
Summary
Sedentary behavior refers to any waking behavior characterized by an energy expenditure ≤ 1.5 metabolic equivalent (MET) while in a sitting or reclining posture [1]. * Correspondence: j.brug@vumc.nl 1Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands Full list of author information is available at the end of the article all cause mortality after adjustment for physical activity levels [2]. Insights are needed in the individual and contextual determinants, predictors and correlates of sedentary behaviors, i.e. the reasons and conditions that make people sit too much, for too long.
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