Worldwide surveillance of self-reported sitting time: a scoping review

Abstract

Background: Prolonged sitting time is a risk factor for chronic disease, yet recent global surveillance is not well described. The aims were to clarify: (i) the countries that have collected country-level data on self-reported sitting time; (ii) the single-item tools used to collect these data; and (iii) the duration of sitting time reported across lowto high-income countries. Methods: Country-level data collected within the last 10 years using single-item self-report were included. The sixstage methodology: (1) reviewing Global Observatory for Physical Activity! Country Cards; (2-4) country-specific searches of PubMed, the Demographic and Health Survey website and Google; (5) analysing the Eurobarometer 88.4; and (6) country-specific searches for World Health Organization STEPwise reports. Results: A total of 7641 records were identified and screened for eligibility. Sixty-two countries (29%) reported sitting time representing 47% of the global adult population. The majority of data were from high-income (61%) and middle income (29%) countries. The tools used were the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ; n = 34), a modified IPAQ (n = 1) or the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ; n = 27). The median of mean daily sitting times was 4.7 (IQR: 3.5-5.1) hours across all countries. Higher-income countries recorded a longer duration of sitting time than lower-income countries (4.9 vs 2.7 h). Conclusions: This study provides an updated collation of countries collecting self-reported sitting time data. The daily sitting time findings should be interpreted cautiously. Current surveillance of sitting time is limited by a lack of coverage. Measures of population sitting time that are valid, feasible and sensitive to change should be embedded within global surveillance systems, to help guide future policy, research and practice. Trial registration: Not applicable.

New global guidelines on sedentary behaviour and health for adults: broadening the behavioural targets

“…These unique determinants/macrolevel drivers and potential differential health impacts of sedentary behaviour require more detailed data and understanding across a wider range of countries, with a focus on disadvantaged populations and LMICs. Recent global surveillance data, though somewhat limited, indicates that self-reported sedentary time varies substantially between high- and low-income countries [ 59 ], with high-income countries reported sedentary time almost double that of low income countries (4.9 vs 2.7 h/day). Moreover, the contextual patterns in which sedentary behaviours occur also vary by indices of socioeconomic status and markers of social disadvantage.…”

Physical inactivity and sitting time prevalence and trends in Mexican adults. Results from three national surveys

“…A study reporting the median hours per day of sitting time indicated that people from upper-middle income countries spent on average 234 minutes per day [ 36 ]. This result was slightly higher compared to the one obtained in our study (214.7 minutes per day) [ 36 ].…”

Effects of a Virtual Physical Activity Program within the Context of Social Distancing During the Covid-19 Pandemic

“…Thus, the participants before the intervention showed a highly sedentary behavior (~8.8 h), and this behavior remained unchanged after 10-weeks of the virtual PA program; although, the volume of PA prescribed met the recommendations by the American College of Sports and Medicine during COVID-19 [34,35]. Furthermore, before the intervention, the sitting time (3.8 h/day) was similar to what was reported in an upper-middle income country (3.9 h/day) and by the end of the program was higher compared to high-income countries (4.7 h/day) [36].…”