Abstract
Sedentary behavior, defined as participation in activities such as sitting and reclining during waking hours that do not increase energy expenditure substantially, has been gaining increased focus in physical activity research. In the last decade, sedentary behavior has emerged as a new risk factor for physical and mental health, independent of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity. Especially, older adults spend most of their waking time in sedentary activities. Despite this high exposure, a broader base of evidence on sedentary behavior research in older adults has not yet been well reviewed. To inform future directions on sedentary behavior research among older adults, the present study provides the overview of the evidence from recently-published studies. This review includes evidence on the prevalence of objectively-measured and self-reported sedentary behaviors; the relationships with sedentary behavior (too much sitting) with multiple health outcomes; the effectiveness of interventions to reduce sedentary time and an overview of public health recommendations on reducing and breaking up sedentary time. Additional studies with high methodological quality are still needed to develop informed guidelines for addressing sedentary behavior in older adults.
