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Updated: May 21, 2026
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Visualization of Intensity Levels to Reduce the Gap Between Self-Reported and Directly Measured Physical Activity
Published on: March 7, 2019
Time use and physical activity: a shift away from movement across the globe
1Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27516, USA. popkin@unc.edu
Summary
Global technology use is reducing physical activity (PA) and increasing sedentary time, posing a major threat to cardiometabolic health. Concerted efforts are needed to monitor and promote PA worldwide.
Area of Science:
- Global health
- Epidemiology
- Public health
Background:
- Modern technology has led to reduced physical activity (PA) in occupational, domestic, and travel domains.
- Sedentary behaviors, particularly television viewing, have significantly increased globally.
- This shift impacts energy expenditure and poses risks to cardiometabolic health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure historical and current physical activity levels and sedentary time across major domains in adults.
- To analyze trends in physical activity and sedentary behavior in the United States, United Kingdom, Brazil, China, and India.
- To project future changes in energy expenditure and sedentary time up to 2030.
Main Methods:
- Utilized detailed historical data on time allocation, occupational distributions, and energy expenditures.
- Calculated time-varying measures of metabolic equivalents of task (MET) for various activities.
- Analyzed trends and projected changes in PA domains and sedentary time for selected countries.
Main Results:
- Significant declines in METs of activity and increases in sedentary time were observed globally.
- Trends varied across countries and PA domains, with technology-driven reductions in occupational and travel-related PA.
- Projections indicate continued increases in sedentary time and decreases in energy expenditure by 2030.
Conclusions:
- The global decline in physical activity and rise in sedentary behavior represent a significant threat to public health.
- Consistent global monitoring of PA and concerted efforts to increase activity and reduce sedentary time are crucial.
- Addressing these trends is vital to mitigate risks of weight gain and cardiometabolic diseases.
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