energy-expenditure-continuum
The Energy Expenditure Continuum

Sedentary behavior is any waking behavior characterized by an energy expenditure ≤1.5 metabolic equivalents (METs), while in a sitting, reclining or lying posture. In general this means that any time a person is sitting or lying down, they are engaging in sedentary behaviour.  Common sedentary behaviours include TV viewing, video game playing, computer use (collective termed “screen time”), driving automobiles, and reading.

This definition of sedentary behaviour has been published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity.  You can access the full paper at the following link: ijbnpa.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12966-017-0525-8.

The citation for this definition is:

Tremblay MS, Aubert S, Barnes JD, Saunders TJ, Carson V, Latimer-Cheung AE, Chastin SFM, Altenburg TM, Chinapaw MJM, SBRN Terminology Consensus Project Participants. Sedentary Behavior Research Network (SBRN) – Terminology Consensus Project process and outcome. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2017 June 10;14(1):75.

Why do we care about sedentary behaviour?

Recent evidence suggests that having a high level of sedentary behaviour negatively impacts health independent of other factors including body weight, diet, and physical activity.  For example, a 12-year study of 17,000 Canadian adults found that those who spent most of their time sitting were 50% more likely to die during the follow-up than those that sit the least, even after controlling for age, smoking, and physical activity levels.  Given these and other findings, researchers are now studying the health impact of sedentary behaviour in a wide range of academic domains including epidemiology, population health, psychology, ergonomics, engineering, and physiology.

You can find links to other recent studies on sedentary behaviour on our Research page, while you can read more detailed study descriptions on our Study Summaries page.  News articles related to sedentary behaviour can be found in the In The News page, our Learning Resources section hosts graphics and videos (coming soon) focusing on specific issues related to sedentary behaviour.

45 Comments

  1. […] HomeWhat is Sedentary Behaviour?Sedentary Research DatabaseMember DirectoryHow to JoinContact SBRN SBRN […]

  2. […] HomeWhat is Sedentary Behaviour?Sedentary Research DatabaseMember DirectoryHow to JoinContact SBRN SBRN […]

  3. […] Sedentary behavior is defined as “any waking activity characterized by a low energy expenditure and a sitting or […]

  4. […] most important contributor to heart disease in women older than 30.  A new study adds to the emerging field of research finding health consequences to being sedentary. This new study showed that  being sedentary was […]

  5. […] In some cases, we can’t help but participate in sedentary activities. For example, the majority of the population in countries with high obesity rates go to school or work and sit at a desk for about 6-7 hours a day, 5 days a week. Then after a stressful day of school or work and on the weekends, many Canadians spend their leisure time in sedentary activities. Some common examples of these activities include sitting for prolonged periods of time reading, watching television, playing passive video games, or playing on the computer (Sedentary Behaviour Research Network). […]

  6. Revocatus Francis Mosha says:

    Is reading sedentary behaviour?

    • MATSA MOSESE says:

      Yes, because you read sitting or lying most of the time. If you read standing and walking around, which is seldom done, then at the time you are not engaged in a sedentary behaviour. So, it is not reading per se, but what you are doing whist reading

  7. […] sedentary behavior, or sitting too much, is now at an all-time […]

  8. […] sedentary behavior, or sitting too much, is now at an all-time […]

  9. […] comportamento sedentário, ou o excesso de tempo que passamos sentados, está em […]

  10. […] Behaviour Research Network. (2015). What is sedentary behaviour? Retrieved from http://www.sedentarybehaviour.org/what-is-sedentary-behaviour/ on March 17, […]

  11. […] Overview of sedentary behaviour by the Sedentary Behaviour Research Network […]

  12. […] throughout the day is a topical issue. Sitting down, which alongside lying down makes up our sedentary behaviour, is increasingly linked to poor health, although there is some contention around this. But when it […]

  13. […] the relationship of sedentary time with leukocyte telomere length is important especially among older adults. Older adults are more […]

  14. […] throughout the day is a topical issue. Sitting down, which alongside lying down makes up our sedentary behaviour, is increasingly linked to poor health, although there is some contention around this. But when it […]

  15. John says:

    What age group is most prone to sedentary behaviour

  16. […] Unfortunately, sedentary behavior, or sitting too much, is now at an all-time high. […]

  17. […] 1. What is Sedentary Behaviour? – Sedentarybehaviour.org – http://www.sedentarybehaviour.org/what-is-sedentary-behaviour/ 2. Owen N, Sparling P, Healy G, Dunstan D and Matthews C. Sedentary Behaviour: Emerging Evidence […]

  18. […] Sedentary behaviours – which means sitting or lying down while awake – are playing havoc with our health, according to Professor David Dunstan, head of the physical activity lab at Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute. […]

  19. […] you are taking a risk – a risk to your own health and to your company’s financial health too! Sedentary behaviours – which means sitting or lying down while awake – are playing havoc with our health, according […]

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  21. […] it is included in something called sedentary behaviour. The Sedentary Behaviour Research Network, (SBRN) define sedentary behaviour as, ‘any waking behaviour characterised by an energy expenditure […]

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  23. […] 4. What Is Sedentary Behaviour? The Sedentary Behaviour Research Network (SBRN), https://www.sedentarybehaviour.org/what-is-sedentary-behaviour/. […]

  24. Vincent L Taylor says:

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  25. […] technology is generally a great thing, it has encouraged more and more of us to live a much more sedentary lifestyle. Instead of going out, we are on our phones or devices, binge-watching our favorite shows on […]

  26. […] many jobs come with stress, sedentary behavior, and unhealthy habits, which can take their toll on your health both physically and mentally. […]

  27. […] keeping with the Sedentary Behavior Research Network, a sedentary conduct entails any time an individual is sitting or mendacity down (i.e.: watching […]

  28. […] But did you know that a lack of productivity is directly linked to inactivity? Yep, all those symptoms – foggy brain, inability to focus, creative slump – stem from a sedentary work life. […]

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  31. Somya Khatri says:

    How is the classification of sedentary behaviour done? How many hours spent sitting will be classified as high, moderate and low level of sedentary behaviour? eg. will 7-10 hours of sitting be considered as high level of sedentary behaviour?

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  33. […] periods of sitting is an increased likelihood of cardiovascular diseases. Studies have shown that sedentary behavior, such as sitting for hours on end, can lead to a higher risk of conditions like heart disease, high […]

  34. […] sedentary behavior has become increasingly prevalent, posing significant risks to health. Reduce sedentary behavior by incorporating short breaks for movement during prolonged periods of sitting. Consider using a […]

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