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Sedentary Behaviour Epidemiology pp 565–594Cite as

Targeting Sedentary Behaviour at the Policy Level

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

Abstract

Policy level approaches are a promising and potentially powerful way to reduce sedentary behaviour at a population level. Ecological models have typically been used to reduce sedentary behaviour at a policy level. These focus on specific settings where policies may be present. This chapter examines home, workplace, education, transportation, healthcare, and nonhome-based leisure settings where sedentary behaviour reduction can be targeted at a policy level and the accompanying evidence for such policies along with important supporting factors. For policies to be effective in these settings, they also require shifting strong social norms to sit and should focus on benefits broader than health, such as increased productivity and academic learning and reduced traffic congestion. Government guidelines are a key policy component as are recommendations from non-government organizations. Current sedentary behaviour guidelines and stakeholder recommendations are summarised. A description of the national physical activity report cards is provided as an example of a successful policy initiative driving sedentary behaviour reduction in many countries. Limitations of the existing evidence and recommendations for future research are also included.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Social Sciences, Early Start Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia

    Anthony D. Okely & Megan Hammersley

  2. Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada

    Mark S. Tremblay & Salomé Aubert

Authors
  1. Anthony D. Okely
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  2. Mark S. Tremblay
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  3. Megan Hammersley
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  4. Salomé Aubert
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anthony D. Okely .

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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Okely, A.D., Tremblay, M.S., Hammersley, M., Aubert, S. (2018). Targeting Sedentary Behaviour at the Policy Level. 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_25

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-61552-3_25

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-61552-3

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