Bouts and breaks in children's sedentary time: currently used operational definitions and recommendations for future research

doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2015.04.019

Preventive Medicine

Volume 77, August 2015, Pages 1-3

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2015.04.019 Get rights and content

Highlights

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Standardized procedures for accelerometer data collection and reduction are needed.
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We propose to define sedentary bouts as periods of uninterrupted sedentary time.
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We should explore mathematical indicators converting data into sedentary patterns.

Abstract

Increasing attention is paid to the potential health effects of children's sedentary bouts and breaks, rather than total sedentary time. This paper discusses currently used operational definitions of sedentary bouts and breaks in studies among children. Remarkably, these studies applied different operational definitions, complicating comparison between studies. To advance the field of sedentary behaviour epidemiology, we need a clear and ‘evidence-based’ operationalization for such sedentary bouts and breaks.

Section snippets

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interests.

Acknowledgments

The contributions of TA and MC were funded by the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMw projectnr 91211057).

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Cited by (47)

Which intensities, types, and patterns of movement behaviors are most strongly associated with cardiometabolic risk factors among children?
2021, Journal of Sport and Health Science
Citation Excerpt :
Sedentary bouts lasting ≥5 min, 10 min, 20 min, or 30 min were identified, along with nonbouted sedentary behavior (i.e., sedentary behavior that does not meet the criteria for a 5-min bout). A sedentary bout was defined as a period of consecutive minutes of <100 accelerometer counts per minute, with no tolerance for epochs exceeding the sedentary threshold within a bout.34 Time spent in the 4 lengths of sedentary bouts were calculated as sedentary time (min/day) accumulated in bouts lasting 5.00–9.99 min, 10.00–19.99 min, 20.00–29.99 min, or ≥30.00 min.
The purpose of this study was to determine which intensities, patterns, and types of 24-h movement behaviors are most strongly associated with cardiometabolic risk factors among children.
A total of 369 children aged 10–13 years were studied. Participants wore an Actical accelerometer and a Garmin Forerunner 220 Global Positioning System logger and completed an activity and sleep log for 7 days. Data from these instruments were combined to estimate average minute per day spent in 14 intensities, 11 types, and 14 patterns of movement. Body mass index, resting heart rate, and systolic blood pressure values were combined to create a cardiometabolic risk factor score. Partial least squares regression analysis was used to examine associations between the 39 movement behavior characteristics and the cardiometabolic risk factor score. The variable importance in projection (VIP) values were used to determine and rank important movement behavior characteristics. There was evidence of interaction by biological maturity, and the analyses were conducted separately in the 50% least mature and 50% most mature participants.
For the least biologically mature participants, fifteen of the 39 movement behavior characteristics had important VIP value scores; eight of these reflected movement intensities (particularly moderate and vigorous intensities), six reflected movement patterns, and one reflected a movement type. For the most mature participants, thirteen of the 39 movement behavior characteristics had important VIP value scores, with five reflecting intensities (particularly moderate and vigorous intensities), five reflecting patterns, and three reflecting types of movement.
More than 12 movement behavior characteristics were associated with cardiometabolic risk factors within both the most and least mature participants. Movement intensities within the moderate and vigorous intensity ranges were the most consistent correlates of these risk factors.
Standing is not enough: A randomized crossover study on the acute cardiometabolic effects of variations in sitting in healthy young men
2019, Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport
Citation Excerpt :
A cut point of <100 counts per minute (cpm) was selected for sedentary behaviour and >1952 for MVPA.22 A period of at least 10 consecutive minutes below 100 cpm was defined as a sedentary bout, and sedentary time accumulated in bouts of ≥10 min was defined as prolonged sedentary time.23,24 To date, there is no consensus on the minimum duration of an MVPA bout.
Standing desks and stability balls are increasingly popular to increase muscle activity and thereby prevent potential adverse cardiometabolic effects of prolonged sitting. The present study examined the effects of (1) sitting on a stability ball (‘active sitting’) and (2) hourly 10-min standing interruptions during prolonged sitting on postprandial cardiometabolic biomarkers.
Experimental crossover study.
Twenty healthy-weight males (19.2 ± 0.6 years) participated randomly in three 5-h conditions: (1) sitting on an office chair (SIT), (2) sitting on a stability ball (SIT-ACTIVE) and (3) sitting with hourly 10-min standing interruptions (SIT-STAND). In each condition, participants consumed a standardized mixed meal at baseline. Hourly blood samples and pre/post saliva samples were collected and analyzed for levels of insulin, glucose and cortisol. Pre/post hemodynamic monitoring (middle finger; Nexfin-monitoring) was conducted; heart rate was measured continuously (Polar) and muscle activity (leg and lower-back, Portilab) was measured during periods of sitting (on an office chair and on a stability ball) and standing.
Muscle activity and heart rate during standing periods were significantly higher than during sitting (both SIT and SIT-ACTIVE). Generalized estimating equations revealed no significant difference in any of the biomarkers between the three experimental conditions. Systolic blood pressure was lower during SIT-STAND, while stroke volume was lower during SIT-ACTIVE than during SIT. Although significant, these differences were small, approximating the day-to-day variability in blood pressure and stroke volume.
We conclude that hourly standing interruptions during 5 h prolonged sitting or continuously sitting on a stability ball do not significantly affect postprandial cardiometabolic biomarkers in healthy young men.
Trial registration: This trial is registered in the NTR trial register (NTRcode 5723).
Day-of-the-Week and Time-of-the-Day Patterns of Sedentary Behavior in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos
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2023, International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity
Sedentary Bout Patterns and Metabolic Health in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latino Youth (SOL Youth)
2023, Journal of the American Heart Association
Associations between Accelerometer-Measured Physical Activity and Fecal Microbiota in Adults with Overweight and Obesity
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CommentaryBouts and breaks in children's sedentary time: currently used operational definitions and recommendations for future research

Highlights

Abstract

Section snippets

Conflict of interest statement

Acknowledgments

Prev. Med.

Gait Posture

Am. J. Clin. Nutr.

Am. J. Prev. Med.

Metabolism

The effect of interrupting prolonged sitting time with short, hourly, moderate-intensity cycling bouts on cardiometabolic risk factors in healthy, young adults

J. Appl. Physiol.

Suppression of skeletal muscle lipoprotein lipase activity during physical inactivity: a molecular reason to maintain daily low-intensity activity

J. Physiol.

Volume, patterns, and types of sedentary behavior and cardio-metabolic health in children and adolescents: a cross-sectional study

BMC Public Health

Commentary
Bouts and breaks in children's sedentary time: currently used operational definitions and recommendations for future research