title: Targeting Reductions in Sitting Time to Increase Physical Activity and Improve Health.
abstract: : New evidence suggests that reductions in sedentary behavior may increase physical activity and improve health. These findings point to new behavioral targets for intervention and new ways to think about intervening to increase overall physical activity in the population. This report provides a knowledge update reflecting the rapid accumulation of new evidence related to sedentary behavior and health among adults. Recent observational studies suggest that leveraging the time-inverse relationship between sedentary and active behaviors by replacing sitting with standing, light- or moderate-intensity activity can have important health benefits, particularly among less active adults. Clinical studies are providing evidence of the probable physiologic mechanisms underlying these associations, as well as insights into the cardiometabolic impact of breaking up and reducing sedentary behavior. In contrast to the well-established behavioral theories that guide the development and dissemination of evidence-based interventions to increase moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity, much less is known about how to reduce sedentary time to increase daily activities. It has become clear that the environmental, social, and individual level determinants for sedentary time are distinct from those linked to the adoption and maintenance of moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity. As a result, novel intervention strategies that focus on sitting and lower-intensity activities by leveraging the surrounding environment (e.g., workplace, school, and home) as well as individual-level cues and habits of sedentary behavior are being tested to increase the potency of interventions designed to increase overall physical activity. Herein we summarize the solutions-oriented research across the behavioral research framework, with a focus on highlighting areas of synergy across disciplines and identifying gaps for future research.
authors.affiliation: 1Kinesiology Department, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA; 2Department of Kinesiology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA; 3Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL; 4Exercise Science and Health Promotion Program, School of Nutrition and Health Promotion, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ; 5Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, AUSTRALIA; 6Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, AUSTRALIA; 7School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, AUSTRALIA; 8School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, AUSTRALIA; 9School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Melbourne, AUSTRALIA; 10Department of Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, AUSTRALIA; 11School of Sport Science, Exercise and Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, AUSTRALIA; and 12Metabolic Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD.
authors.forename: Sarah K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Keadle
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Conroy
authors.forename: Matthew P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Buman
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Dunstan
authors.forename: Charles E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Matthews
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D004777:Environment; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009042:Motivation; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D013997:Time Factors