Paper
The health risks associated with prolonged sitting: a systematic review
Published Nov 11, 2010 · Margaret Jane Anne Heaslop
International Journal of Evidence-based Healthcare
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Abstract
Review objective: To critically appraise, synthesise and present the best available evidence concerning the cardiovascular and metabolic risks associated with prolonged sitting in otherwise healthy adults. That is, in adults who are not overweight, obese, or have any other existing metabolic or cardiovascular condition, does prolonged sitting increase the risk of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke or other obesity-related health problems? Review question: In healthy adults, does prolonged sitting increase the risk of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke or other obesity-related health problems? Inclusion criteria: Types of participants: This review will consider studies that include adults (approximately 18–65 years; males and females), without existing metabolic or cardiovascular health problems (eg obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome). Types of interventions/phenomena of interest: The review will consider studies that evaluate sedentary behaviour, defined as prolonged sitting time, screen (television, computer) time, or any nonspecified sedentary behaviour (occupational or nonoccupational). For the purposes of the review, these key terms are defined as follows10: Sedentary behaviour: behaviours that have a low energy expenditure (eg >1.5 METs6,10 [metabolic equivalent — the ratio of the metabolic rate of an activity and the resting metabolic rate]). Sedentary behaviour does not include standing; rather, it can include: – prolonged sitting: sitting down for several hours at a time, without standing or walking breaks – screen time: time spent sitting in front of a computer, television, video game, etc (either at work or in leisure time) – nonspecified sedentary behaviour: any other behaviour that involves sitting or lying (eg driving, reading, listening to music, talking on the telephone). Types of outcome measures: This review will consider studies that include the following primary outcome measures: incidence of obesity and obesity-related disease, including (but not limited to) type II (adultonset) diabetes, cardiovascular incidents (eg stroke, myocardial infarction), cardiovascular disease (eg heart failure), metabolic syndrome (according to the World Health Organization definition), all-cause mortality/morbidity. Secondary outcomes will include any cardiovascular or metabolic measures, such as insulin resistance or sensitivity, high blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), lean body mass/body composition (including change in adiposity, lean body mass, weight, etc), abdominal obesity (waist circumference), percentage body fat.
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