title: Seasonal variation in physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep in a sample of UK adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Physical activity (PA), sedentary behaviour (SB), sleep and diet have all been associated with increased risk for chronic disease. Seasonality is often overlooked as a determinant of these behaviours in adults. Currently, no study has simultaneously monitored these behaviours in UK adults to assess seasonal variation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study investigated whether PA, SB, sleep and diet differed over season in UK adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-six adults (72% female; age = 41.7 ± 14.4 years, BMI = 24.9 ± 4.4 kg/m(2)) completed four 7-day monitoring periods; one during each season of the year. The ActiGraph GT1M was used to monitor PA and SB. Daily sleep diaries monitored time spent in bed (TIB) and total sleep time (TST). The European Prospective Investigation of Cancer (EPIC) food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) assessed diet. Repeated measures ANOVAs were used to identify seasonal differences in behaviours.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Light-intensity PA was significantly higher in summer and spring (p < 0.001). SB and TIB were significantly higher in winter (p < 0.01). There were no seasonal variations detected in moderate-vigorous PA, TST or diet (p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings support the concept that health promotion campaigns need to encourage year-round participation in light intensity PA, whilst limiting SB, particularly during the winter months.
authors.affiliation: MoveLab; Physical Activity and Exercise Research, Institute of Cellular Medicine, 4th Floor William Leech Building, Newcastle University , Newcastle Upon Tyne NE2 4HH , UK and.
authors.forename: Sophie E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: O'Connell
authors.forename: Paula L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Griffiths
authors.forename: Stacy A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Clemes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004032:Diet; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D012621:Seasons; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D012890:Sleep; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires