HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Bernstein, M S Articles by Sloutskis, D Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Bernstein, M S Articles by Sloutskis, D

Definition and prevalence of sedentarism in an urban population.

M S Bernstein, A Morabia and D Sloutskis

Clinical Epidemiology Division, University Canton Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland.

OBJECTIVES: The present study sought to formulate a precise definition of sedentarism and to identify activities performed by active people that could serve as effective preventive goals. METHODS: A population-based sample of 919 residents of Geneva, Switzerland, aged 35 to 74 years, completed a 24-hour recall. Sedentary people were defined as those expending less than 10% of their daily energy in the performance of moderate- and high-intensity activities (at least 4 times the basal metabolism rate). RESULTS: The rates of sedentarism were 79.5% in men and 87.2% in women. Among sedentary and active men, average daily energy expenditures were 2600 kcal (95% confidence interval [CI] = 2552, 2648) and 3226 kcal (95% CI = 3110, 3346), respectively; the corresponding averages for women were 2092 kcal (95% CI = 2064, 2120) and 2356 kcal (95% CI = 2274, 2440). The main moderate- and high-intensity activities among active people were sports (tennis, gymnastics, skiing), walking, climbing stairs, gardening, and (for men only) occupational activities. CONCLUSIONS: The definition of sedentarism outlined in this article can be reproduced in other populations, allows comparisons across studies, and provides preventive guidelines in that the activities most frequently performed by active people are the ones most likely to be adopted by their sedentary peers.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P. Collins, G. Rosano, C. Casey, C. Daly, M. Gambacciani, P. Hadji, R. Kaaja, T. Mikkola, S. Palacios, R. Preston, et al. Management of cardiovascular risk in the peri-menopausal woman: a consensus statement of European cardiologists and gynaecologists Eur. Heart J., August 2, 2007; 28(16): 2028 - 2040. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. C. Costanza, S. Beer-Borst, and A. Morabia Achieving Energy Balance at the Population Level Through Increases in Physical Activity Am J Public Health, March 1, 2007; 97(3): 520 - 525. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. E. Allison Self-Care Requirements for Activity and Rest: An Orem Nursing Focus Nurs Sci Q, January 1, 2007; 20(1): 68 - 76. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. J. Biddle, T. Gorely, S. J Marshall, I. Murdey, and N. Cameron Physical activity and sedentary behaviours in youth: issues and controversies The Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health, January 1, 2004; 124(1): 29 - 33. [Abstract] [PDF]

				A. Morabia, E. Cayanis, M. C. Costanza, B. M. Ross, M. S. Flaherty, G. B. Alvin, K. Das, and T. C. Gilliam Association of extreme blood lipid profile phenotypic variation with 11 reverse cholesterol transport genes and 10 non-genetic cardiovascular disease risk factors Hum. Mol. Genet., November 1, 2003; 12(21): 2733 - 2743. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Galobardes, M. C. Costanza, M. S. Bernstein, C. Delhumeau, and A. Morabia Trends in Risk Factors for Lifestyle-Related Diseases by Socioeconomic Position in Geneva, Switzerland, 1993-2000: Health Inequalities Persist Am J Public Health, August 1, 2003; 93(8): 1302 - 1309. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. J Varo, M. A Martinez-Gonzalez, J. de Irala-Estevez, J. Kearney, M. Gibney, and J A. Martinez Distribution and determinants of sedentary lifestyles in the European Union Int. J. Epidemiol., February 1, 2003; 32(1): 138 - 146. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]