Trends in Sedentary Behavior Among the US Population, 2001-2016

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Prolonged sitting, especially screen time, is linked to increased disease risk and mortality.
• Understanding temporal trends in sedentary behaviors is crucial for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze patterns and temporal trends in US sedentary behaviors.
• To identify sociodemographic and lifestyle correlates of these behaviors.

Main Methods:

• Serial, cross-sectional analysis of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data (2001-2016).
• Included children (5-11 yrs), adolescents (12-19 yrs), and adults (≥20 yrs).
• Assessed prevalence of TV/video watching (≥2h/day), computer use (≥1h/day), and total sitting time.

Main Results:

• TV/video watching prevalence remained high and stable across age groups, except for a decrease in children.
• Leisure-time computer use significantly increased in all age groups from 2001-2016.
• Total daily sitting time increased among adolescents and adults between 2007-2016.

Conclusions:

• Sedentary behavior patterns in the US show a shift towards increased computer use and overall sitting time.
• While TV watching remains high, the rise in computer use warrants attention for public health strategies.
• Interventions may be needed to address increasing sedentary time, particularly among adolescents and adults.