title: Sitting ducks face chronic disease: an analysis of newspaper coverage of sedentary behaviour as a health issue in Australia 2000-2012.
abstract: Issue addressed This study examines how sedentary behaviour (too much sitting) was covered as a health issue by Australian newspapers and how physical activity was framed within this newspaper coverage. Methods Articles featuring sedentary behaviour published in Australian newspapers between 2000 and 2012 were analysed for content and framing. Main outcome measures were volume, number and content of newspaper articles; framing and types of sedentary behaviour; responsibility for the problem of and solutions to high levels of sedentary behaviour; and physical activity mentions and how it was framed within sedentary behaviour coverage. Results Out of 48 articles, prolonged sitting was framed as bad for health (52%) and specifically as health compromising for office workers (25%). Adults who sat a lot were framed as 'easy targets' for ill health (21% of headlines led with 'sitting ducks' or 'sitting targets'). Prolonged sitting was framed as an issue of individual responsibility (>90%) with less mention of environmental and sociocultural contributors. Thirty-six of 48 articles mentioned physical activity; 39% stated that being physically active does not matter if a person sits for prolonged periods of time or that the benefits of physical activity are undone by too much sitting. Conclusions News coverage should reflect the full socio-ecological model of sedentary behaviour and continually reinforce the independent and well-established benefits of health-enhancing physical activity alongside the need to limit prolonged sitting. So what? It is important that the entire 'move more, sit less, every day!' message is communicated by news media.
authors.affiliation: Prevention Research Collaboration, School of Public Health, Sydney Medical School, Level 6, The Hub, Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: Josephine Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chau
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, City Campus, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia.
authors.forename: Catriona
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bonfiglioli
authors.affiliation: Prevention Research Collaboration, School of Public Health, Sydney Medical School, Level 6, The Hub, Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.affiliation: Prevention Research Collaboration, School of Public Health, Sydney Medical School, Level 6, The Hub, Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: Zeljko
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Pedisic
authors.affiliation: National Heart Foundation of Australia, New South Wales Division, Level 3, 80 William Street, Sydney, NSW 2011, Australia.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Daley
authors.affiliation: Prevention Research Collaboration, School of Public Health, Sydney Medical School, Level 6, The Hub, Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: Bronwyn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: McGill
authors.affiliation: Prevention Research Collaboration, School of Public Health, Sydney Medical School, Level 6, The Hub, Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bauman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D009524:Newspapers as Topic; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D000077708:Sitting Position