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Screen Time, Other Sedentary Behaviours, and Obesity Risk in Adults: A Review of Reviews

Authors:
Stuart J.H. Biddle at University of Southern Queensland
Stuart J.H. Biddle
Enrique García Bengoechea at University of Limerick
Enrique García Bengoechea
Zeljko Pedisic at Victoria University
Zeljko Pedisic
Jason Bennie
Jason Bennie
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Purpose of review: The aim of this paper is to assess the association between sedentary behaviours, including screen time, and risk of obesity in adults. A review of 10 systematic reviews was undertaken. Recent findings: Available evidence is generally not supportive of associations between sedentary behaviour and obesity in adults. Most studies that found significant associations indicated mostly small effect sizes. Somewhat more consistent associations were shown for screen time (mainly TV viewing), among older adults, and for pre-adult sedentary behaviour to increase the risk of obesity in adulthood. Some evidence also exists for breaks in sedentary time to be associated with a more favourable BMI, and for use of a car to be associated with greater risk of obesity. There is limited evidence for an association between sedentary behaviour in adulthood and obesity and any association that exists does not seem to be causal. Future research is required investigating potentially positive effects for frequent breaks from sitting, less car use, and an uncoupling of TV viewing and dietary intake.
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OBESITY PREVENTION (A MUST, SECTION EDITOR)
Screen Time, Other Sedentary Behaviours, and Obesity Risk
in Adults: A Review of Reviews
Stuart J.H. Biddle
1,2
&Enrique Bengoechea García
1,3
&Zeljko Pedisic
1
&Jason Bennie
1,2
&
Ineke Vergeer
1,2
&Glen Wiesner
1
Published online: 18 April 2017
#Springer Science+Business Media New York 2017
Abstract
Purpose of Review The aim of this paper is to assess the
association between sedentary behaviours, including screen
time, and risk of obesity in adults. A review of 10 systematic
reviews was undertaken.
Recent Findings Available evidence is generally not supportive
of associations between sedentary behaviour and obesity in
adults. Most studies that found significant associations indicated
mostly small effect sizes. Somewhat more consistent associa-
tions were shown for screen time (mainly TV viewing), among
older adults, and for pre-adult sedentary behaviour to increase the
risk of obesity in adulthood. Some evidence also exists for breaks
in sedentary time to be associated with a more favourable BMI,
and for use of a car to be associated with greater risk of obesity.
Summary There is limited evidence for an association be-
tween sedentary behaviour in adulthood and obesity and any
association that exists does not seem to be causal. Future re-
search is required investigating potentially positive effects for
frequent breaks from sitting, less car use, and an uncoupling of
TV viewing and dietary intake.
Keywords Sedentary behaviour .Screen time .TV viewing .
Sedentary breaks .Obesity .Adults .Systematic review .
Causality .Motorised transport
Introduction
Many working adults eat breakfast sitting down, drive to work,
sit at work, drive home, eat dinner seated at a table or in front of
the TV, and sit for several hours in front of the TV or other
screens for recreation until bed time. In the past, when we had
more active jobs and less access to door-to-door motorised
transport, we sat less and moved more [1]. Such trends have
led to researchers and health and other policy makers to show
an increasing interest in ‘sedentary behaviour’or ‘sitting time’.
Sedentary behaviour specifically refers to behaviours
performed with little or no energy expenditure in a seated or
lying position during waking hours (i.e. not sleep) [2].
Time spent in sedentary behaviour is usually estimated
using wearable technology that assesses body posture
(inclinometers) or (lack of) movement (accelerometers), or
through self-reporting of this behaviour (e.g. questionnaires).
Estimates from large-scale studies using accelerometry
suggest that adults in the USA are sedentary on average for
between 7.2 to 9.5 h per day, increasing with age [3].
However, the nature of sedentary behaviours, as well as the
This article is part of the Topical Collection on Obesity Prevention
*Stuart J.H. Biddle
stuart.biddle@usq.edu.au
Enrique Bengoechea García
enrique.garcia@mail.mcgill.ca
Zeljko Pedisic
zeljko.pedisic@vu.edu.au
Jason Bennie
jason.bennie@usq.edu.au
Ineke Vergeer
ineke.vergeer@usq.edu.au
Glen Wiesner
Glen.Wiesner@vu.edu.au
1
Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living, Victoria University,
Footscray Park, Melbourne, VIC 8001, Australia
2
Institute for Resilient Regions, University of Southern Queensland,
Sinnathamby Boulevard, Springfield Central, QLD 4300, Australia
3
McGill University, Montreal, Canada
Curr Obes Rep (2017) 6:134–147
DOI 10.1007/s13679-017-0256-9
Content courtesy of Springer Nature, terms of use apply. Rights reserved.
... In physical activity research, some review studies have explored the impact of time spent in sedentary behavior on several health outcomes, including obesity in adulthood 9,10,11 . Overall, it is agreed that the evidence needed to understand this complex association is inconclusive. ...
... Overall, it is agreed that the evidence needed to understand this complex association is inconclusive. Regarding the link between obesity/adiposity and sedentary behaviors, more consistent associations have been shown for screen time (mainly TV viewing) 9 and car use 10 , although in general these factors have been studied independently. The means of transportation is another topic increasingly studied since strong evidence points that active transport behavior (primarily walking and cycling) can result in substantial health benefits 12,13,14,15 . ...
... Moreover, we highlight that our latent variable called active transportation was mainly characterized by cycling in contrast to motor vehicle commuting. Our results corroborate previous studies suggesting that car use may be associated with a higher risk of obesity 10,33 . Taken together, these findings support the recommendation to choose or promote active transportation instead of passive transportation whenever possible. ...
Active transportation is associated with lower obesity risk: generalized structural equations model applied to physical activity.
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... In addition to these factors, the spread and mass use of electronic devices, digital resources and applications and social networks have contributed to a wide digital/virtual transition. Television (TV), which previously was the only screen activity for most teenagers, now competes with computers, smartphones, tablets, and video games, which all contribute to the increase in time spent in sedentary behavior, especially in free time 8 . Even though access to digital technology in low-income and lower-middle-income countries is not massive compared to that observed in high-income countries, it is still occurring. ...
... Ciência & Saúde Coletiva, 30(suplemento 1):[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] 2025 ...
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The aim of the study was to describe the temporal trend of excessive exposure to sedentary behaviors (SB) and analyze its relationship with sociodemographic factors in adolescents. This study was collected in three waves: 2006 (n = 4,207); 2011 (n = 6,264) and 2016 (n = 6,026). Excessive exposure to sedentary behavior (SB) was operationalized from the following indicators: i) watching television (TV); and ii) SB (except TV). Differences in the prevalence of excessive exposure to sedentary behavior indicators between the collection waves were tested through the intersection of confidence intervals (95%CI). Binary logistic regression was used to assess possible changes in the prevalence of excessive exposure to TV and SB and to analyze its association with sociodemographic factors. Over 10 years, the prevalence of excessive exposure to TV decreased by 23.0 percentage points (79.1% vs. 56.1%), being higher in boys (81.3%). Excessive exposure to SB increased by 15.5 percentage points (62.7%; 95%CI: 61.5-64.0 vs. 78.2%; 95%CI: 77.1-79.4), with a similar magnitude between boys and girls. Excessive exposure to TV is on a downward trend, while that of SB has an upward trend. The temporal behavior of excessive exposure to TV and SB were similar in adolescents of different sociodemographic characteristics in both genders.
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... On the other hand, intermediate physical activity level sitting leisure time was associated with lower odds of metabolic risk after five to ten years [27]. Prolonged screen time in front of the television in the pre-adult stage is strongly associated with obesity in adulthood [28]. In contrast, previous studies have not found a link between playing digital games and the rates of overweight and obesity [29]. ...
... This imbalance can lead to fat deposition, particularly visceral fat, disrupting normal metabolic processes and causing insulin resistance. Furthermore, prolonged screen time, especially at night, may disrupt melatonin secretion, delay bedtime, stimulate ghrelin release, and increase appetite while suppressing leptin hormone, leading to hormonal imbalance and fat deposition [28,32]. ...
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... Furthermore, occupational sitting not necessarily increase health risk since it is a complex phenomenon influenced by factors such as gender and other lifestyle variables [4]. According to this, researchers do not consistently support a direct link between sitting behavior and obesity [5]. It seems that leisure-time sitting is particularly responsible for excess weight, not only because it reduces physical activity, but also due to the unhealthy eating habits associated with it [6]. ...
... Sitting time also varied significantly based on nutritional status, but it was not the obese individuals who sat the most-it was those within the normal BMI range. This finding aligns with previous studies that found no correlation between sedentary behavior and obesity in adults [5], but the overweight people sat the least as in the Bácsné et al. study [24]. In addition, physical activity levels were negatively correlated with sitting time consistent with the findings of Bácsné et al. [24]. ...
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... This theory says attitudes, subjective norms, and behavioural control perceptions influence behavioural intentions and acts. An optimistic view on exercise may lessen the adverse effects of screen time on physical health [27]. ...
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Article
  • Jul 2016
Purpose: To compare the metabolic effects of breaking up sedentary time with prolonged periods of standing versus multiple shorter standing bouts with the same total duration to determine whether, in principle, altering the frequency of 'standing breaks' in sedentary time, influences metabolic responses over the course of the day. Methods: Ten normoglycaemic overweight/obese men (age 33±13 years; BMI 28.3±3.0 kg.m; mean±SD) each participated in three experimental trials in random order, in which they arrived fasted, then consumed a test breakfast (8 kcal.kg body weight, with 37% energy from fat, 49% from carbohydrates, 14% from protein) and, 4 hours later, an identical test lunch. Expired air and blood samples were taken fasted and for eight hours postprandially. In one trial (SIT) participants sat continuously throughout the observation period; in the prolonged standing trial (PRO-Stand), participants stood still for 15 minutes every 30 minutes; and in the intermittent standing trial (INT-Stand), they stood for 1.5 minutes, 10 times every 30 minutes. Results: Compared to SIT energy expenditure was 320±62 kJ (10.7±2.0%) higher in PRO-Stand and 617±76 kJ (20.4±2.3%) higher in INT-Stand: energy expenditure in INT-Stand was 296±78 kJ (9.0±2.3%) higher than PRO-Stand (mean±SEM; all p<0.001). However, there were no significant differences between trials in postprandial glucose, insulin or triglyceride responses. Conclusions: These data demonstrate an independent effect of frequency of sedentary breaks on energy expenditure which provides an explanation for the association between frequency of sedentary breaks and adiposity observed in epidemiological data. However, it may be necessary to break up sitting with activities of greater intensity than quiet standing to positively influence glucose, insulin and triglyceride metabolism in relatively young, normoglycaemic overweight/obese men.
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