Abstract
Evidence suggests that more time spent in sedentary behaviors (SB) increases health risk independent of physical activities. Trends in SB among adults have not been fully described in China, and the sociodemographic correlates of SB have not been systematically evaluated either. This study examined the temporal trends of SB among 184,257 adults (2002: n = 52,697, 2010–2012: n = 131,560) using data from the China National Nutrition and Health Survey in 2002 and 2010–2012, and analyzed the recent correlates of SB in Chinese adults. Overall, an increase (+0.29 h/d) was seen in total SB across the survey years, and there was a slight increase (+0.14 h/d) in leisure time SB and a decrease (−0.39 h/d) in occupational SB. From 2002 to 2012, the proportion of Chinese adults whose total SB time over 4 h/d increased from 35.4% to 43.0%, and the proportion of leisure SB time over 3 h/d increased from 42.0% to 48.0%, and the proportion of occupational SB time over 4 h/d decreased from 63.4% to 53.0%. Male, urban areas, employed, unmarried, and with higher educational and family economic level were all positively associated with high sedentary time (HST) in 2010–2012. These trends and correlates are important for health policy in China and other countries that are facing similar challenges.
Highlights
Physical inactivity is the fourth highest risk factor for death in the world [1]
Male (Odds ratio [OR]: 1.10, 95% confidence intervals [95% CI]: 1.10–1.11), in urban areas (OR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.26–1.27), employed (OR: 9.56, 95% CI: 9.55–9.56), and unmarried (OR: 1.28, 95% CI: 1.27–1.28) were all positively associated with high sedentary time (HST)
There was a slight increase of total sedentary behaviors (SB) time in Chinese adults, which was smaller compared with the US adults during the period of 2007–2016 [10,11], and was similar with the adults in Mexico City from 2006 to 2015 [14]
Summary
Physical inactivity is the fourth highest risk factor for death in the world [1]. due to the advancements of technology, the growing affordability of washing machines, motorized vehicles, and smart phones, many physical activities (PA) have been replaced by sedentary behaviors (SB)during work and leisure time. Physical inactivity is the fourth highest risk factor for death in the world [1]. SB are becoming of higher concern; one reason is that SB may displace the time available for PA and result in overall lower energy expenditure, the other is that SB are related to the risk of many chronic health outcomes independent of PA. Over the last few decades, China has experienced significant social and economic transitions, and alongside this transition is the dramatic increase in the prevalence of overweight, obesity, and chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Coupled with China’s rapidly aging population, NCDs contributed to a significant proportion of deaths and rising health care costs in recent years [3]
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