Sedentary behaviour is associated with deleterious health outcomes, which differ from those that can be attributed to a lack of moderate to vigorous physical activity. This has led to the field of “sedentary physiology”, which may be considered as separate and distinct from exercise physiology. This paper gives an overview of this emerging area of research and highlights the ways that it differs from traditional exercise physiology. Definitions of key terms associated with the field of sedentary physiology and a review of the self-report and objective methods for assessing sedentary behaviour are provided. Proposed mechanisms of sedentary physiology are examined, and how they differ from those linking physical activity and health are highlighted. Evidence relating to associations of sedentary behaviours with major health outcomes and the population prevalence and correlates of sedentary behaviours are reviewed. Recommendations for future research are proposed.
Based on a representative sample of the Canadian population, this article quantifies the bias resulting from the use of selfreported rather than directly measured height, weight and body mass index (BMI). Associations between BMI categories and selected health conditions are compared to see if the misclassification resulting from the use of self-reported data alters associations between obesity and obesity-related health conditions. The analysis is based on 4,567 respondents to the 2005 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) who, during a face-to-face interview, provided self-reported values for height and weight and were then measured by trained interviewers. Based on self-reported data, a substantial proportion of individuals with excess body weight were erroneously placed in lower BMI categories. This misclassification resulted in elevated associations between overweight/obesity and morbidity.
• Light intensity physical activity is associated with a marked reduction in chronic disease and mortality risk. • That activities of daily living are associated with health benefits supports public health initiatives that advocate for replacing sitting time with standing and engaging in routine activities such as casual walking, leisurely sports and light housework. • The shift in focus from movement behaviours in isolation to the integration of all movement behaviours over the whole day will provide movement options for adults, treatment options for practitioners, and greater opportunities for public health promotion.
New research suggests that the composition (mix) of movement behaviors within a 24-h period may have important implications for health across the lifespan. Consistent with this integrated movement behavior paradigm, a number of countries across the world have developed and released 24-h movement guidelines for specific age groups. The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the associations between the 24-h time-use composition of movement behaviors, or adherence to 24-h movement guidelines, and multiple health indicators across the lifespan.
The transition from primary to secondary school is a major life event associated with large decreases in physical activity levels. Cross-sectional studies also suggest that secondary school students are less likely to engage in active school transport (AST; e.g. walking and cycling to/from school). To our knowledge, no longitudinal study has previously examined the correlates of AST immediately before and after the school transition. This pilot-study assessed: 1) the concordance between child- and parent-perceived barriers to AST (with Spearman correlations); 2) the associations of AST with child- and parent-perceived barriers to AST, parental neighborhood selection factors and socio-demographic characteristics (using Fisher's exact test). Participants were recruited in four K-6 schools (where children are required to change school after grade 6) located in census tracts with varying population density in Ottawa (Canada). All assessments were done at baseline and follow-up with respectively 49 and 29 participants. Substantial concordance was found between child- and parent-perceived barriers to AST at baseline, but not at follow-up; this might reflect the novelty of the route and the secondary school environment. Distance between home and school was the strongest barrier to AST while road safety concerns and the perception of having too much stuff to carry were also important barriers to AST. Children were more likely to engage in AST when their parents reported that they chose their neighborhood so that their children could easily walk or bike to school; thus future studies should take parental neighborhood selection into account. These findings should contribute to inform future research informing the development of policies and interventions to promote AST.
No abstract is provided for this article.
No abstract is provided for this article.
Despite evidence linking physical activity during childhood to later health outcomes, physical education programs in elementary and middle schools have slowly been eroded during the past two decades. Many educators and parents believe that the time and money spent on physical activity during school hours might be better spent on academic pursuits. This Brief provides a summary of three relevant longitudinal studies, and a recent study by Tremblay, Inman, and Willms (in press) which examined the relationships among children’s self-esteem, levels of physical activity, body-mass index, and academic achievement. The data were collected from the full population of grade 6 students in New Brunswick in 1996, as part of the Elementary School Climate Study. The findings indicate that the concern that physical activity has a deleterious effect on achievement is not well founded. Moreover, increased physical activity has important positive effects on self-esteem and physical health, which in the longer term may contribute to academic success. ▸ The leading cause of death in Canada is heart disease. Three of the most important modifiable risk factors for heart disease are poor nutrition, smoking, and a lack of physical activity. The evidence linking physical activity and health is stronger for adults than for children; however, the likelihood of being active as an adult is influenced by habits established during childhood.
