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Updated: Oct 23, 2025

Visualization of Intensity Levels to Reduce the Gap Between Self-Reported and Directly Measured Physical Activity
Published on: March 7, 2019
Nuances between sedentary behavior and physical inactivity: cardiometabolic effects and cardiovascular risk
Erika Andressa Simões de Melo1, Laryssa Elza de Santana Ferreira1, Rodolfo José Ferreira Cavalcanti1
1Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco, Campus Paulo Afonso - Paulo Afonso (BA), Brazil.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to highlight the differences between the cardiometabolic effects and the cardiovascular risk of physical inactivity and sedentary behavior.
Methods:
A narrative bibliographic review was conducted. In the research, national and international articles were selected from the PubMed, SciELO, and LILACS databases using the descriptors "sedentary lifestyle, cardiovascular risk, physical inactivity, sedentary behavior, and cardiovascular risks."
Discussion:
Both physical inactivity and sedentary behavior are related to metabolic and organic changes, promoting a chronic proinflammatory state, cardiac remodeling, increased body adiposity, and skeletal muscle dysfunction. It is possibly stated that both of them result in a higher risk of developing chronic diseases, resulting in higher global and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, with nuances in their intrinsic effects.
Conclusions:
It is inferred that both physical inactivity and sedentary behavior are cardiovascular risk factors that can be modified with the correct clinical approach. It is necessary to differentiate physically inactive individuals from those with a high number of sedentary behaviors. These concepts need better clinical applicability to improve the prevention of primary and secondary cardiovascular risks.
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