Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 13, 2026

Physical Activity Measurement in Children Accepting Table Tennis Training
Published on: July 27, 2022
Seasonality of physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep in a middle-aged and elderly population: The
Magda Cepeda1, Chantal M Koolhaas1, Frank J A van Rooij1
1Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Introduction:
Physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) have seasonal patterns. It remains unclear how these patterns are associated with sleep, meteorological factors, and health.
Methods:
Activity levels were continuously measured with an accelerometer for seven days between July 2011 and May 2016, among middle-aged (50-64 years), young-elderly (65-74 years) and old-elderly (≥75 years) participants of a population-based Dutch cohort study (n = 1116). Meteorological factors (ambient temperature, wind speed, sunlight hours, precipitation, and minimum visibility) were locally recorded. We first examined the seasonality of PA, SB, and nighttime sleep, stratified by age group. Second, we examined the influence of meteorological factors. Third, we modeled the potential seasonality of the all-cause mortality risk due to the seasonality of PA and SB, by using previously published relative risks.
Results:
Levels of light and moderate-to-vigorous PA were higher in summer than in winter among middle-aged (seasonal variation = 18.1 and 14.8 min/day) and young-elderly adults (12.8 and 8.6 min/day). The pattern was explained by ambient temperature and sunlight hours. Nighttime sleep was 31.8 min/day longer in winter among middle-aged adults. SB did not show a seasonal pattern. No seasonality in activity levels was observed among old-elderly adults. The all-cause mortality risk may be higher in winter than in summer due to the accumulation of low levels of moderate to vigorous PA and high levels of SB.
Conclusion:
PA has a larger degree of seasonality than SB and nighttime sleep among middle-aged and young-elderly adults. SB appears strongly ingrained in daily routine. Recommending the interruption of SB with light PA might be a good starting point for public health institutions.
Related Concept Videos
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder
RBD is significantly associated with...
Seasoning of Wood
Achieving equilibrium moisture content is the goal of seasoning; this is the point where the wood's moisture content stabilizes to align with the moisture levels of the surrounding environment. Proper...
Biological Clocks and Seasonal Responses
Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
What is Population Genetics?
What is Behavior?

