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Approaches to Decrease Sedentary Behaviour Among the Elderly

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Sedentary Behaviour Epidemiology

Part of the book series: Springer Series on Epidemiology and Public Health ((SSEH))

Abstract

The elderly are one of the most sedentary groups of the population and they have the highest rates of chronic acquired disease and disability. Research suggests a link between time spent being sedentary and ill health. Therefore, there is an immediate and urgent need to understand how to decrease the amount of sedentary behaviour in which an elderly individual engages. However, to date, very few studies have attempted to reduce sedentary time in the elderly, with half focusing primarily on reducing sedentary time and half focusing on increasing physical activity. Within these interventions, there are striking similarities in design of the study as well as primary purpose of the study. However, large variation in methodology such as measurement tools used to assess sedentary behaviour, theoretical grounding of the interventions, and interventional structure is apparent. Results of these studies have shown that sedentary behaviour can change. Interventions have shown these decreases in sedentary behaviours to be about 30 min, a relatively small portion of the waking day (~3%). The changes in sedentary behaviour can happen rapidly, but it is not fully understood whether these changes can be enhanced with the application of different behavioural theories or interventional techniques. Further, it is not known whether these changes in sedentary behaviour can be sustained.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    CHAMPS—Community Healthy Activities Model Program for Seniors

  2. 2.

    IPAQ—International Physical Activity Questionnaire

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Kinesiology-Exercise Science and Health Promotion, College of Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA

    Ann M. Swartz

  2. Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA

    Whitney A. Welch

Authors
  1. Ann M. Swartz
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  2. Whitney A. Welch
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Correspondence to Ann M. Swartz .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Universität Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany

    Michael F. Leitzmann

  2. Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Universität Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany

    Carmen Jochem

  3. Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Universität Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany

    Daniela Schmid

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Swartz, A.M., Welch, W.A. (2018). Approaches to Decrease Sedentary Behaviour Among the Elderly. In: Leitzmann, M., Jochem, C., Schmid, D. (eds) Sedentary Behaviour Epidemiology. Springer Series on Epidemiology and Public Health. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-61552-3_19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-61552-3_19

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-61550-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-61552-3

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