Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 29, 2026

Visualization of Intensity Levels to Reduce the Gap Between Self-Reported and Directly Measured Physical Activity
Published on: March 7, 2019
Profiles of sedentary and non-sedentary young men - a population-based MOPO study
Riitta Pyky1,2,3,4, Anna-Maiju Jauho5,6,7, Riikka Ahola8,9
1Department of Sports and Exercise Medicine, Oulu Deaconess Institute, Albertinkatu 18A, P. O. Box 365, 90100, Oulu, Finland. riitta.pyky@odl.fi.
Background:
Sedentary behavior is associated with poor well-being in youth with adverse trajectories spanning to adulthood. Still, its determinants are poorly known. Our aim was to profile sedentary and non-sedentary young men and to clarify their differences in a population-based setting.
Methods:
A total of 616 men (mean age 17.9, SD 0.6) attending compulsory conscription for military service completed a questionnaire on health, health behavior, socioeconomic situation and media use. They underwent a physical (body composition, muscle and aerobic fitness) and medical examination. Profiles were formed by principal component analysis (PCA).
Results:
A total of 30.1 % men were sedentary (daily leisure-time sitting ≥5 h) and 28.9 % non-sedentary (sitting ≤2 h). The sedentary men had more body fat, more depressive symptoms, but lower fitness and life satisfaction than non-sedentary men. However, according to PCA, profiles of unhealthy eating, life-dissatisfaction, and gaming were detected both among sedentary and non-sedentary men, as well as high self-rated PA and motives to exercise.
Conclusion:
Determinants of sedentary and non-sedentary lifestyles were multiple and partially overlapping. Recognizing individual patterns and underlying factors of the sedentary lifestyle is essential for tailored health promotion and interventions.
Related Concept Videos
Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age
Initially, the limb buds consist of a core of mesenchyme covered by a layer of ectoderm. The ectoderm at the end of the limb bud thickens to form a narrow crest called the apical ectodermal ridge. This ridge stimulates the underlying...
Lifestyle Factors and Health
Benefits of Physical Activity
Physical activity, whether through structured exercise or casual activities like walking, biking, or dancing, is a cornerstone of a...
Longitudinal Studies
Relationship Formation
Natural Selection and Mating Preferences
Females, due to their biological roles in conception, pregnancy, and nursing,...
Exercise and Muscle Performance
Endurance exercises
Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...

