Abstract
Background
High levels of sedentary behavior and physical inactivity increase the risk of premature mortality and several chronic diseases. Monitoring national trends and correlates of sedentary behavior and physical inactivity can help identify patterns of risk in the population over time.
Methods
We used self-reported data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (2007/2008–2017/2018) to estimate trends in US adults’ mean daily sitting time, overall and stratified by levels of leisure-time and multi-domain physical activity, and in the joint prevalence of high sitting time (>8 hours/day) and physical inactivity. Trends were tested using orthogonal polynomial contrasts.
Results
Overall, mean daily sitting time increased by 19 minutes from 2007/2008 (332 minutes/day) to 2017/2018 (351 minutes/day) (plinear<0.05; pquadratic<0.05). The highest point estimate occurred in 2013/2014 (426 minutes/day), with a decreasing trend observed after this point (plinear<0.05). Similar trends were observed across physical activity levels and domains, with one exception: an overall linear increase was not observed among sufficiently active adults. Mean daily sitting time was lowest among highly active adults compared to less active adults when using the multi-domain physical activity measure.
Conclusions
Sitting time among adults increased over the study period but decreased in recent years.
Keywords: sedentary behavior, surveillance
INTRODUCTION
The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition (“Guidelines”) include guidance for adults to move more and sit less throughout the day and state that adults who sit less and do any amount of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity gain some health benefits.1 Regular physical activity is associated with a range of health benefits, including reduced risk of many chronic diseases and premature all-cause mortality.2 A substantial body of evidence also shows a strong relationship between time spent in sedentary behavior, often assessed as daily sitting time, and adverse health outcomes, including an increased risk of premature cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality.2 Both high sedentary behavior and physical inactivity have negative health effects, and the risk of premature mortality is particularly elevated when they occur together.2, 3 Growing evidence also suggests the mortality risks associated with sedentary time are attenuated at higher levels of moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity.2, 3 Monitoring population trends in the combination of sedentary behavior and physical activity can help identify patterns of risk in the population over time.
The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) is the only US surveillance system that regularly monitors self-reported sitting time and physical activity.4 Using data from NHANES, studies have found a significant increase of about 40 minutes per day in self-reported sitting time among US adults from 2007/2008 to 2015/2016.5, 6 Physical activity levels have also increased over the past several years;7, 8 for example, a recent analysis of NHANES multi-domain activity found 68% of adults met the aerobic guideline in 2017/2018, up from 64% in 2007/2008.7 However, to our knowledge, no studies to date have examined whether trends in sitting time vary by physical activity levels. A better understanding of how sitting time varies by levels of physical activity in leisure-time, the most commonly assessed physical activity domain in the US,4 and in multiple domains can provide insight into the population risk levels of these behaviors and inform strategies to help reduce sitting time and increase physical activity. For example, if increases in sitting time were primarily occurring among adults who are also physically inactive, this would be particularly concerning given current evidence demonstrating the health risks associated with high levels of sedentary behavior are exacerbated by low levels of physical activity.
In addition, understanding how commonly high sitting time and physical inactivity co-occur in the adult population, how this joint prevalence is changing over time, and the demographic correlates of these joint behaviors could help establish the current magnitude of risk in the population and identify high risk groups. One study found that 11% of US adults reported sitting for >8 hours per day and engaging in no leisure-time physical activity in 2015/2016.9 Another study found a temporal increase in the joint prevalence of sitting for >6 hours per day and not adhering to the aerobic physical activity guideline of ≥150 minutes of moderate-intensity equivalent physical activity per week across multiple domains (e.g. leisure-time, occupational/household, and transportation) from 2007/2008 to 2015/2016.5 Studies that have examined correlates of combined high sitting time and physical inactivity are limited, but evidence exists to suggest older age and higher body mass index (BMI) are independent risk factors for each of these behaviors.10–14 The present study updates and extends previous findings by examining recent trends in the joint prevalence of high sitting time and physical inactivity and the demographic correlates of these combined high-risk behaviors to inform future strategies.
Using nationally representative data from 2007/2008 to 2017/2018, we had three specific objectives. First, we estimate trends in self-reported sitting time among US adults overall and by physical activity levels. Second, we estimate trends in the combined prevalence of high sitting time and physical inactivity. Third, we examine demographic characteristics associated with the joint behaviors. To determine if findings vary when considering additional domains of physical activity beyond leisure-time, we use two measures of physical activity throughout: 1) leisure-time physical activity only, and 2) multi-domain (i.e., leisure-time, occupational/household, and transportation-related) physical activity.
METHODS
Data Source and Sample
Data from adult respondents (≥18 years old) in 6 cycles of NHANES were analyzed: 2007/2008 (n=6,228), 2009/2010 (n=6,527), 2011/2012 (n=5,864), 2013/2014 (n=6,113), 2015/2016 (n=5,992), and 2017/2018 (n=5,856). NHANES combines in-person interviews with physical examinations to assess the health and nutritional status of US youth and adults. It uses a stratified, multistage, probability cluster sample of the civilian, non-institutionalized population, and data are released in 2-year increments. Additional information on the sampling methodology and data collection procedures are available on the NHANES website (https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/). From 2007/2008 through 2017/2018, interview response rates ranged from a low of 51.9% (2017/2018) to a high of 79.4% (2009/2010). For this analysis, individuals were excluded if they were missing data on sitting time (n=217), physical activity (n=104), demographic characteristics (n=66), or measured BMI (n=1,890). The final analytic sample consisted of 34,303 adults.
Measures
Sitting time
In 2007/2008, daily sitting time was assessed with the following question: “How much time do you usually spend sitting or reclining on a typical day?” Respondents were asked to include the amount of waking time spent “sitting or reclining at work, at home, or at school, including time spent sitting at a desk, sitting with friends, traveling in a car, bus, or train, reading, playing cards, watching television, or using a computer.” In subsequent cycles, a similar question was asked without the phrase “or reclining.” Daily sitting time was categorized as <4 hours/day, 4 to <6 hours/day, 6 to 8 hours/day, and >8 hours/day (“high sitting time”), consistent with categories used in other large epidemiologic studies.3, 9, 15
Physical activity
In all cycles, occupational/household physical activity, active transportation and leisure-time physical activity, were assessed separately using questions about the frequency (days per week) and duration (minutes per day) of activities done for at least 10 minutes continuously in a typical week. Vigorous-intensity activities were defined as those “that require hard physical effort and cause large increases in breathing or heart rate,” and moderate-intensity activities as those “that require moderate physical effort and cause small increases in breathing or heart rate.” First, respondents separately reported vigorous-intensity and moderate-intensity activities done as part of “paid or unpaid work, household chores, and yard work” (i.e., occupational/household activity). Second, respondents reported the time spent “walking or using a bicycle for at least 10 minutes continuously to get to and from places” (i.e., transportation-related activity); these activities were considered moderate-intensity per the analytic notes provided for the NHANES physical activity questionnaire.1 Third, respondents separately reported vigorous-intensity and moderate-intensity “sports, fitness and recreational activities” (i.e., leisure-time activity). Within each domain, the frequency and duration of moderate- and vigorous-intensity activity were multiplied to calculate total weekly volume. Per guidelines, the volume of vigorous-intensity physical activity was multiplied by two and added to moderate-intensity physical activity to create moderate-intensity equivalent minutes.1 Two variables were created representing volume of leisure-time physical activity and volume of multi-domain physical activity (leisure-time, occupational/household, and transportation-related). For each, respondents were categorized based on moderate-intensity equivalent minutes as inactive (<10 minutes per week), insufficiently active (10–149 minutes per week), sufficiently active (150–300 minutes per week), or highly active (>300 minutes per week) according to current aerobic guidelines.1
Demographic characteristics
Demographic characteristics assessed in the interview included sex, age, race, ethnicity, and highest level of educational attainment. Age was categorized as 18–34 years, 35–44 years, 45–64 years, and ≥65 years. Race and ethnicity were combined into a single variable and categorized as non-Hispanic White (White), non-Hispanic Black (Black), Hispanic, and non-Hispanic other or multiple races. Education level was categorized as less than high school, high school graduate, some college, and college graduate or above. Respondents reported their employment status during the past week, and each was categorized as employed (“working at a job or business” or “with a job or business but not at work”), not employed (“not working at a job or business” due to reasons other than retirement, or “looking for work”), or retired. BMI, calculated using weight and height measured during the in-person examination, was categorized as under or normal weight (<25.0 kg/m2), overweight (25.0–<30.0 kg/m2), or having obesity (≥30.0 kg/m2).16
Data Analysis
Weighted descriptive characteristics were calculated for each NHANES cycle. For each cycle, mean daily sitting time (minutes/day) was estimated with 95% confidence intervals (CI) overall and stratified by level of leisure-time only and multi-domain physical activity. Within cycles, pairwise differences in mean sitting time by physical activity levels were tested using adjusted Wald tests. Absolute differences in mean sitting time from 2007/2008 to 2017/2018 were calculated, and linear and quadratic trends over time were tested using linear regression with orthogonal polynomial contrasts. Given a significant overall quadratic trend and the observed inflection point in 2013/2014, trends before and after this time point (segment 1: 2007/2008 to 2013/2014; segment 2: 2013/2014 to 2017/2018) were also examined. For each cycle, the joint prevalence of high sitting time and physical inactivity was estimated, and trends were tested using logistic regression with orthogonal polynomial contrasts. For the most recent survey cycle (2017/2018), demographic differences in the joint prevalence of high sitting time and physical inactivity were evaluated using logistic regression; crude and adjusted odds ratios with 95% CIs were calculated. The odds ratios were adjusted for sex, age, race/ethnicity, education level, employment status, and BMI status. For all analyses, the significance level was set at P < 0.05. Analyses were conducted in Stata Version 13.1 (College Station, TX) using survey commands to account for sampling weights and survey design characteristics.
RESULTS
Sample-weighted demographic characteristics, physical activity levels, and categories of sitting time are summarized in Table 1 for each survey cycle. In each cycle, just under one-half of adults were physically inactive when considering only leisure-time physical activity, and just over one-fifth were physically inactive when considering multi-domain physical activity. In 2007/2008, 33.6% reported sitting for <4 hours/day and 18% reported sitting for >8 hours/day, compared to 26.9% and 19.7% in 2017/2018, respectively.
Table 1.
Demographic characteristics, physical activity levels, and sitting time among US adults, NHANES, 2007/2008 to 2017/2018
| 2007/2008 | 2009/2010 | 2011/2012 | 2013/2014 | 2015/2016 | 2017/2018 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (n=5,838) | (n=6,254) | (n=5,485) | (n=5,805) | (n=5,571) | (n=5,350) | |||||||
|
|
||||||||||||
| Characteristic | %* | (95% CI) | %* | (95% CI) | %* | (95% CI) | %* | (95% CI) | %* | (95% CI) | %* | (95% CI) |
|
| ||||||||||||
| Sex | ||||||||||||
| Men | 48.4 | (47.1–49.8) | 48.1 | (46.9–49.3) | 48.5 | (47.0–50.0) | 48.1 | (46.7–49.5) | 47.7 | (46.5–49.0) | 48.0 | (46.0–50.0) |
| Women | 51.6 | (50.2–52.9) | 51.9 | (50.7–53.1) | 51.5 | (50.0–53.0) | 51.9 | (50.5–53.3) | 52.3 | (51.0–53.5) | 52.0 | (50.0–54.0) |
| Age (years) | ||||||||||||
| 18−34 | 30.3 | (28.0–32.5) | 29.9 | (28.1–31.8) | 30.2 | (25.3–35.0) | 30.3 | (27.6–33.1) | 29.4 | (26.9–31.9) | 30.0 | (27.2–32.7) |
| 35−44 | 18.9 | (17.2–20.7) | 18.9 | (17.1–20.7) | 17.3 | (14.6–20.1) | 17.4 | (15.6–19.2) | 16.4 | (14.2–18.5) | 16.1 | (13.8–18.4) |
| 45−64 | 35.3 | (33.0–37.5) | 34.4 | (32.8–36.0) | 36.1 | (32.9–39.4) | 34.5 | (32.5–36.4) | 34.6 | (32.4–36.8) | 35.3 | (33.0–37.6) |
| ≥65 | 15.5 | (14.0–17.0) | 16.8 | (15.1–18.5) | 16.4 | (14.2–18.5) | 17.8 | (16.6–19.0) | 19.6 | (17.2–22.0) | 18.7 | (15.9–21.4) |
| Race/ethnicity | ||||||||||||
| White, non-Hispanic | 69.4 | (61.6–77.1) | 67.6 | (60.6–74.6) | 66.0 | (57.9–74.2) | 65.6 | (58.7–72.6) | 63.6 | (55.2–71.9) | 62.3 | (56.8–67.8) |
| Black, non-Hispanic | 11.3 | (7.2–15.4) | 11.6 | (9.8–13.3) | 11.7 | (6.8–16.6) | 11.5 | (8.0–15.1) | 11.5 | (6.8–16.1) | 11.3 | (7.9–14.8) |
| Hispanic | 13.4 | (9.2–17.6) | 13.8 | (7.7–19.8) | 14.5 | (9.2–19.7) | 14.9 | (9.9–19.8) | 15.5 | (9.9–21.0) | 15.9 | (11.7–20.2) |
| Other or multiple race | 5.9 | (3.7–8.1) | 7.0 | (4.8–9.3) | 7.8 | (5.5–10.1) | 8.0 | (6.4–9.5) | 9.5 | (6.7–12.2) | 10.5 | (7.8–13.2) |
| Education level | ||||||||||||
| <High school graduate | 20.8 | (17.7–23.9) | 19.4 | (17.4–21.4) | 16.8 | (13.1–20.5) | 16.0 | (12.7–19.4) | 14.6 | (11.0–18.1) | 11.3 | (9.5–13.0) |
| High school graduate | 25.8 | (23.1–28.4) | 23.2 | (20.8–25.6) | 20.2 | (17.6–22.8) | 22.0 | (19.4–24.7) | 21.4 | (19.1–23.8) | 27.9 | (24.6–31.2) |
| Some college | 28.9 | (27.1–30.7) | 30.5 | (28.7–32.3) | 32.6 | (29.5–35.7) | 32.7 | (30.5–34.9) | 32.3 | (29.3–35.2) | 30.6 | (28.0–33.3) |
| ≥College graduate | 24.5 | (20.3–28.7) | 26.9 | (24.2–29.6) | 30.4 | (25.3–35.5) | 29.3 | (25.3–33.2) | 31.7 | (25.5–38.0) | 30.2 | (25.1–35.3) |
| Employment status | ||||||||||||
| Employed | 65.0 | (61.8–68.3) | 62.1 | (60.4–63.9) | 60.8 | (57.2–64.3) | 61.6 | (58.5–64.7) | 64.6 | (61.0–68.2) | 64.3 | (61.8–66.7) |
| Not employed | 21.0 | (18.3–23.7) | 23.5 | (21.8–25.2) | 25.3 | (22.0–28.6) | 22.8 | (19.9–25.6) | 19.4 | (16.8–22.0) | 19.6 | (17.5–21.7) |
| Retired | 14.0 | (12.5–15.4) | 14.4 | (12.7–16.0) | 14.0 | (12.3–15.7) | 15.7 | (14.5–16.8) | 16.1 | (13.5–18.6) | 16.1 | (13.6–18.7) |
| BMI category | ||||||||||||
| Under/normal weight | 33.0 | (31.0–35.1) | 31.6 | (29.0–34.2) | 32.7 | (28.9–36.4) | 31.0 | (29.1–32.8) | 29.6 | (26.2–32.9) | 27.8 | (25.0–30.7) |
| Overweight | 34.1 | (32.6–35.5) | 33.1 | (31.0–35.2) | 33.2 | (30.5–36.0) | 32.3 | (30.7–33.9) | 31.5 | (30.3–32.7) | 30.7 | (28.2–33.2) |
| Obesity | 32.9 | (30.5–35.3) | 35.3 | (33.4–37.2) | 34.1 | (31.2–37.0) | 36.7 | (34.9–38.6) | 38.9 | (35.6–42.3) | 41.5 | (37.6–45.3) |
| Leisure time physical activity† | ||||||||||||
| Inactive | 47.7 | (42.1–53.2) | 47.8 | (45.3–50.2) | 44.0 | (39.2–48.8) | 46.5 | (43.7–49.3) | 44.3 | (39.8–48.7) | 45.4 | (41.7–49.0) |
| Insufficiently active | 16.8 | (14.9–18.6) | 16.1 | (14.8–17.4) | 16.0 | (14.2–17.7) | 16.4 | (14.8–18.1) | 15.3 | (13.8–16.7) | 16.1 | (13.7–18.5) |
| Sufficiently active | 13.6 | (11.2–15.9) | 14.7 | (13.5–15.9) | 15.5 | (13.7–17.3) | 13.8 | (12.9–14.7) | 15.2 | (13.4–17.1) | 13.9 | (12.0–15.8) |
| Highly active | 22.0 | (19.2–24.8) | 21.4 | (18.8–24.1) | 24.5 | (21.0–28.0) | 23.3 | (21.0–25.5) | 25.2 | (22.4–28.1) | 24.6 | (22.5–26.6) |
| Multi-domain physical activity‡ | ||||||||||||
| Inactive | 22.5 | (19.5–25.4) | 23.3 | (21.6–24.9) | 21.0 | (18.0–24.1) | 23.4 | (22.2–24.6) | 20.8 | (17.7–23.9) | 20.6 | (18.6–22.6) |
| Insufficiently active | 12.9 | (11.5–14.4) | 13.7 | (12.5–14.9) | 13.2 | (12.3–14.1) | 14.4 | (13.2–15.5) | 13.2 | (12.1–14.2) | 11.2 | (9.8–12.6) |
| Sufficiently active | 12.5 | (11.0–14.1) | 13.3 | (12.2–14.4) | 13.5 | (12.3–14.7) | 13.0 | (11.6–14.4) | 11.8 | (10.2–13.3) | 11.1 | (9.8–12.5) |
| Highly active | 52.1 | (49.7–54.4) | 49.7 | (46.8–52.6) | 52.3 | (48.9–55.6) | 49.3 | (47.4–51.2) | 54.3 | (51.9–56.6) | 57.0 | (55.4–58.7) |
| Daily sitting time | ||||||||||||
| <4 hours/day | 33.6 | (30.6–36.5) | 29.4 | (27.8–31.1) | 22.8 | (19.9–25.6) | 14.6 | (13.1–16.1) | 18.7 | (16.4–21.0) | 26.9 | (23.6–30.2) |
| 4−<6 hours/day | 23.6 | (22.6–24.7) | 24.3 | (22.0–26.5) | 24.3 | (23.0–25.6) | 19.6 | (17.4–21.8) | 25.0 | (22.7–27.3) | 26.3 | (23.9–28.7) |
| 6−8 hours/day | 24.8 | (23.4–26.1) | 27.3 | (25.5–29.0) | 30.0 | (27.9–32.2) | 36.5 | (34.1–38.9) | 30.8 | (28.1–33.5) | 27.2 | (24.6–29.7) |
| >8 hours/day | 18.0 | (16.0–20.0) | 19.0 | (16.9–21.2) | 22.9 | (20.6–25.3) | 29.4 | (26.8–31.9) | 25.5 | (22.6–28.3) | 19.7 | (17.8–21.7) |
Abbreviations: NHANES=National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey; CI=confidence interval; BMI=body mass index
Across the 6 survey cycles, respondents were excluded if they were missing sitting time (n=217), physical activity (n=104), demographic characteristics (n=66), or measured BMI (n=1,890).
Weighted percentages
For leisure-time physical activity, respondents reported the frequency (days per week) and duration (minutes per day) of vigorous- and moderate-intensity “sports, fitness and recreational activities” done for at least 10 minutes continuously in a typical week. The frequency and duration of moderate- and vigorous-intensity activity were multiplied to calculate total weekly volume. Per aerobic physical activity guidelines, the volume of vigorous-intensity physical activity was multiplied by two and added to moderate-intensity activity to create moderate-intensity equivalent minutes. Based on the volume of moderate-intensity equivalent minutes of leisure-time physical activity, each respondent was categorized as inactive (<10 minutes per week), insufficiently active (10–149 minutes per week), sufficiently active (150–300 minutes per week), or highly active (>300 minutes per week).
Includes leisure-time, occupational/household, and transportation-related physical activity. For occupational/household physical activity, respondents reported the frequency (days per week) and duration (minutes per day) of vigorous- and moderate-intensity activities done as part of “paid or unpaid work, household chores, and yard work” for at least 10 minutes continuously in a typical week. For transportation-related physical activity, respondents reported the frequency (days per week) and duration (minutes per day) of “walking or using a bicycle for at least 10 minutes continuously to get to and from places” in a typical week; transportation-related activity was considered moderate-intensity. Within each domain, the frequency and duration of moderate- and vigorous-intensity activity were multiplied to calculate total weekly volume. Per aerobic physical activity guidelines, the volume of vigorous-intensity physical activity was multiplied by two and added to moderate-intensity physical activity to create moderate-intensity equivalent minutes. Based on the combined volume of moderate-intensity equivalent minutes of leisure-time, occupational/household, and transportation-related physical activity, each respondent was categorized as inactive (<10 minutes per week), insufficiently active (10–149 minutes per week), sufficiently active (150–300 minutes per week), or highly active (>300 minutes per week).
Overall Trends in Sitting Time
Overall, sitting time increased by 19 minutes from 332 minutes/day (5.5 hours/day) in 2007/2008 to 351 minutes/day (5.9 hours/day) in 2017/2018. The shape of the trend was both significantly linear and quadratic (plinear<0.05; pquadratic <0.05), thus demonstrating nonlinear variation in addition to an overall increase over time (Figure 1). The highest point estimate occurred in 2013/2014 (426 minutes/day). Two segments with significant linear trends were observed before and after 2013/2014 (change from 2007/2008 to 2013/2014: 94.4 minute increase [plinear<0.05; pquadratic<0.05], change from 2013/2014 to 2017/2018: 75.4 minute decrease [plinear<0.05]).
Figure 1. Trends in mean daily sitting time among US adults, NHANES 2007/2008 to 2017/2018.
Error bars represent 95% confidence intervals.
Trends and Differences in Sitting Time by Physical Activity Levels
Across all levels of leisure-time only and multi-domain physical activity, from 2007/2008 to 2017/2018, mean daily sitting time exhibited a positive linear trend with a negative quadratic trend (plinear<0.05; pquadratic<0.05) with one exception: linear trends were not significant among the sufficiently active group regardless of domain examined (Table 2). The highest point estimate for mean daily sitting time occurred in 2013/2014 across all levels of leisure-time only and multi-domain physical activity (Figure 2). When examining segments before and after 2013/2014, there were significant linear increases of between 56.2 and 119.5 minutes/day before this point (plinear<0.05 for all subgroups) and significant linear decreases of between 50.3 to 99.8 minutes/day after this point (plinear<0.05 for all subgroups). For three subgroups, a significant quadratic trend was observed between 2007/2008 and 2013/2014 in addition to the linear increase (pquadratic<0.05): inactive adults in both leisure-time only and multi-domain physical activity, and insufficiently active adults in multi-domain physical activity. In each survey cycle, mean sitting time was lowest among highly active adults (e.g. 2017/2018: 323.2 minutes/day, 95% CI: 304.3–342.2) compared to inactive (396.0 minutes/day, 95% CI: 376.3–415.7), insufficiently active (369.8 minutes/day, 95% CI: 342.2–397.3), and sufficiently active (390.7 minutes/day, 95% CI: 363.8–417.6) adults when using the multi-domain physical activity measure (Table 2). When using leisure-time physical activity, the comparison between highly active and other categories was less consistent across survey cycles.
Table 2.
Trends in mean daily sitting time among US adults overall and by physical activity level, NHANES 2007/2008 to 2017/2018
| Daily Sitting Time |
Change |
|||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007/2008 | 2013/2014 | 2017/2018 | Segment 1* | Segment 2* | Overall* | |||||||
|
|
||||||||||||
| Mean (min) | (95% CI) | Mean (min) | (95% CI) | Mean (min) | (95% CI) | Abs (min) | Trend | Abs (min) | Trend | Abs (min) | Trend | |
|
| ||||||||||||
| Overall | 332.0 | (318.8–345.2) | 426.4 | (414.5–438.4) | 351.0 | (336.7–365.2) | 94.4 | L,Q | −75.4 | L | 19.0 | L,Q |
| Leisure-time physical activity† | ||||||||||||
| Inactive | 324.6 | (309.3–340.0)a | 444.1 | (429.3–458.8) | 352.5 | (334.0–371.0)a | 119.5 | L,Q | −91.6 | L | 27.9 | L,Q |
| Insufficiently active | 346.7 | (318.5–375.0)ab | 427.0 | (405.3–448.7)a | 349.6 | (325.1–374.1)a | 80.3 | L | −77.4 | L | 2.9 | L,Q |
| Sufficiently active | 359.3 | (328.8–389.8)b | 415.5 | (400.0–431.0)a | 356.2 | (330.5–381.8)a | 56.2 | L | −59.3 | L | −3.1 | Q |
| Highly active | 320.0 | (305.3–334.8)a | 397.3 | (381.5–413.0) | 346.1 | (321.4–370.8)a | 77.3 | L | −51.2 | L | 26.1 | L,Q |
| Multi-domain physical activity‡ | ||||||||||||
| Inactive | 384.6 | (366.5–402.7)a | 489.4 | (469.4–509.4)a | 396.0 | (376.3–415.7)a | 104.8 | L,Q | −93.4 | L | 11.4 | L,Q |
| Insufficiently active | 371.4 | (343.5–399.3)a | 469.6 | (442.1–497.1)a | 369.8 | (342.2–397.3)a | 98.2 | L,Q | −99.8 | L | −1.6 | L,Q |
| Sufficiently active | 380.9 | (354.4–407.4)a | 441.0 | (426.2–455.9) | 390.7 | (363.8–417.6)a | 60.1 | L | −50.3 | L | 9.8 | Q |
| Highly active | 287.8 | (274.8–300.7) | 380.1 | (366.0–394.2) | 323.2 | (304.3–342.2) | 92.3 | L | −56.9 | L | 35.4 | L,Q |
Abbreviations: NHANES=National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey; Abs=Absolute change; Min=Minutes; CI=confidence interval; L=significant linear trend; Q=significant quadratic trend
Letters denote results of pairwise comparisons of predicted marginal means. Estimates sharing a letter are not significantly different at the 0.05 level.
Segment 1: 2007/2008 to 2013/2014; Segment 2: 2013/2014 to 2017/2018; Overall: 2007/2008 to 2017/2018. Estimates shown in bold represent a significant absolute change in mean daily sitting time (p<0.05) over the specified time period.
For leisure-time physical activity, respondents reported the frequency (days per week) and duration (minutes per day) of vigorous- and moderate-intensity “sports, fitness and recreational activities” done for at least 10 minutes continuously in a typical week. The frequency and duration of moderate- and vigorous-intensity activity were multiplied to calculate total weekly volume. Per aerobic physical activity guidelines, the volume of vigorous-intensity physical activity was multiplied by two and added to moderate-intensity activity to create moderate-intensity equivalent minutes. Based on the volume of moderate-intensity equivalent minutes of leisure-time physical activity, each respondent was categorized as inactive (<10 minutes per week), insufficiently active (10–149 minutes per week), sufficiently active (150–300 minutes per week), or highly active (>300 minutes per week).
Includes leisure-time, occupational/household, and transportation-related physical activity. For occupational/household physical activity, respondents reported the frequency (days per week) and duration (minutes per day) of vigorous- and moderate-intensity activities done as part of “paid or unpaid work, household chores, and yard work” for at least 10 minutes continuously in a typical week. For transportation-related physical activity, respondents reported the frequency (days per week) and duration (minutes per day) of “walking or using a bicycle for at least 10 minutes continuously to get to and from places” in a typical week; transportation-related activity was considered moderate-intensity. Within each domain, the frequency and duration of moderate- and vigorous-intensity activity were multiplied to calculate total weekly volume. Per aerobic physical activity guidelines, the volume of vigorous-intensity physical activity was multiplied by two and added to moderate-intensity physical activity to create moderate-intensity equivalent minutes. Based on the combined volume of moderate-intensity equivalent minutes of leisure-time, occupational/household, and transportation-related physical activity, each respondent was categorized as inactive (<10 minutes per week), insufficiently active (10–149 minutes per week), sufficiently active (150–300 minutes per week), or highly active (>300 minutes per week).
Figure 2. Trends in mean daily sitting time among US adults by levels of leisure-time and multi-domain physical activity, NHANES 2007/2008 to 2017/2018.
* For leisure-time physical activity, respondents reported the frequency (days per week) and duration (minutes per day) of vigorous- and moderate-intensity “sports, fitness and recreational activities” done for at least 10 minutes continuously in a typical week. The frequency and duration of moderate- and vigorous-intensity activity were multiplied to calculate total weekly volume. Per aerobic physical activity guidelines, the volume of vigorous-intensity physical activity was multiplied by two and added to moderate-intensity activity to create moderate-intensity equivalent minutes. Based on the volume of moderate-intensity equivalent minutes of leisure-time physical activity, each respondent was categorized as inactive (<10 minutes per week), insufficiently active (10–149 minutes per week), sufficiently active (150–300 minutes per week), or highly active (>300 minutes per week).
† Includes leisure-time, occupational/household, and transportation-related physical activity. For occupational/household physical activity, respondents reported the frequency (days per week) and duration (minutes per day) of vigorous- and moderate-intensity activities done as part of “paid or unpaid work, household chores, and yard work” for at least 10 minutes continuously in a typical week. For transportation-related physical activity, respondents reported the frequency (days per week) and duration (minutes per day) of “walking or using a bicycle for at least 10 minutes continuously to get to and from places” in a typical week; transportation-related activity was considered moderate-intensity. Within each domain, the frequency and duration of moderate- and vigorous-intensity activity were multiplied to calculate total weekly volume. Per aerobic physical activity guidelines, the volume of vigorous-intensity physical activity was multiplied by two and added to moderate-intensity physical activity to create moderate-intensity equivalent minutes. Based on the combined volume of moderate-intensity equivalent minutes of leisure-time, occupational/household, and transportation-related physical activity, each respondent was categorized as inactive (<10 minutes per week), insufficiently active (10–149 minutes per week), sufficiently active (150–300 minutes per week), or highly active (>300 minutes per week).
Joint Prevalence of High Sitting Time and Physical Inactivity
The joint prevalence of high sitting time and leisure-time physical inactivity increased from 8.2% in 2007/2008 to 8.7% in 2017/2018 (plinear <0.05; pquadratic <0.05; Figure 3). The joint prevalence of high sitting time and multi-domain physical inactivity was lower in magnitude at each survey cycle than comparable estimates using only leisure-time inactivity (e.g., 5.8% in 2007/2008 and 5.5% in 2017/2018), and a significant quadratic trend was observed with no significant linear trend (pquadratic<0.05). The highest joint prevalence estimate was observed in 2013/2014 for both leisure-time inactivity (14.4%) and multi-domain inactivity (9.5%); for both measures, a linear increasing trend with a significant deviation was observed before this point (plinear<0.05; pquadratic<0.05), with a significant linear decreasing trend after this point (plinear<0.05).
Figure 3. Trends in the joint prevalence of high sitting time (>8 hours per day) and physical inactivity among US adults by domain of physical activity, NHANES 2007/2008 to 2017/2018.
The blue line represents the percentage who reported both sitting for more than 8 hours per day and engaging in less than 10 minutes per week of leisure-time physical activity. The gray line represents the percentage who reported both sitting for more than 8 hours per day and engaging in less than 10 minutes per week of multi-domain (leisure-time, occupational/household, or transportation-related) physical activity. Error bars represent 95% confidence intervals.
From 2007/2008 to 2017/2018, a significant positive linear trend and negative quadratic trend (p<0.05) was observed for the joint prevalence of high sitting time and leisure time physical inactivity. From 2007/2008 to 2017/2018, a significant negative quadratic trend (p<0.05) was observed for the joint prevalence of high sitting time and multi-domain physical inactivity, with no significant linear trend.
Demographic Differences in Joint Prevalence
Regardless of whether leisure-time only or multi-domain physical activity was included, the unadjusted odds of reporting both high sitting time and physical inactivity were greater among adults aged ≥65 years compared to 18–34 years, greater among adults with obesity compared to under/normal weight adults, and lower among Hispanic compared to White adults (Table 3). The unadjusted odds of high sitting time and physical inactivity were greater among retired adults compared to employed adults only when multi-domain physical activity was included. When analyses were adjusted for demographic characteristics, results were similar with two exceptions: odds were no longer significant for Hispanic compared to White adults and for retired compared to employed adults when using the multi-domain physical activity measure.
Table 3.
Correlates of jointly reporting high sitting time (>8 hours per day) and physical inactivity* among US adults by domain of physical activity, NHANES 2017/2018
| Leisure-Time Physical Activity‡ |
Multi-Domain Physical Activity§ |
|||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Characteristic | %† | (95% CI) | OR | (95% CI) | AOR | (95% CI) | %b | (95% CI) | OR | (95% CI) | AOR | (95% CI) |
|
|
||||||||||||
| Overall | 8.7 | (7.8–9.6) | - | - | - | - | 5.5 | (4.6–6.5) | - | - | - | - |
| Sex | ||||||||||||
| Men | 8.2 | (6.4–9.9) | REF | - | REF | - | 4.8 | (3.4–6.1) | REF | - | REF | - |
| Women | 9.2 | (7.4–10.9) | 1.10 | (0.77–1.58) | 1.09 | (0.73–1.61) | 6.3 | (5.1–7.4) | 1.31 | (0.95–1.81) | 1.30 | (0.96–1.77) |
| Age (years) | ||||||||||||
| 18−34 | 6.5 | (4.5–8.5) | REF | - | REF | - | 3.7 | (1.8–5.6) | REF | - | REF | - |
| 35−44 | 9.0 | (6.1–11.9) | 1.50 | (0.83–2.71) | 1.32 | (0.77–2.27) | 5.7 | (3.3–8.2) | 1.53 | (0.71–3.30) | 1.39 | (0.67–2.89) |
| 45−64 | 8.3 | (6.4–10.3) | 1.38 | (0.82–2.34) | 1.18 | (0.77–1.82) | 5.0 | (3.5–6.4) | 1.31 | (0.66–2.63) | 1.19 | (0.65–2.19) |
| ≥65 | 12.7 | (9.7–15.6) | 2.20 | (1.30–3.75) | 2.26 | (1.38–3.70) | 9.5 | (7.0–12.0) | 2.65 | (1.35–5.19) | 2.54 | (1.40–4.59) |
| Race/ethnicity | ||||||||||||
| White, non-Hispanic | 9.5 | (8.2–10.8) | REF | - | REF | - | 6.1 | (4.8–7.4) | REF | - | REF | - |
| Black, non-Hispanic | 9.8 | (7.8–11.7) | 1.03 | (0.83–1.27) | 0.97 | (0.77–1.23) | 6.2 | (4.9–7.4) | 0.97 | (0.75–1.26) | 1.03 | (0.79–1.34) |
| Hispanic | 5.1 | (3.2–7.0) | 0.52 | (0.33–0.82) | 0.49 | (0.30–0.81) | 3.4 | (1.8–5.0) | 0.53 | (0.31–0.89) | 0.58 | (0.33–1.02) |
| Other or multiple race | 8.4 | (6.5–10.2) | 0.88 | (0.68–1.15) | 0.99 | (0.73–1.34) | 4.8 | (3.1–6.4) | 0.75 | (0.51–1.11) | 0.90 | (0.58–1.39) |
| Education level | ||||||||||||
| <High school graduate | 8.7 | (6.5–10.9) | REF | - | REF | - | 4.9 | (3.1–6.7) | REF | - | REF | - |
| High school graduate | 7.9 | (6.3–9.5) | 0.98 | (0.65–1.49) | 0.79 | (0.60–1.06) | 4.0 | (3.0–5.1) | 0.86 | (0.60–1.24) | 0.76 | (0.53–1.07) |
| Some college | 10.8 | (8.4–13.1) | 1.36 | (0.96–1.92) | 1.13 | (0.84–1.51) | 6.9 | (4.4–9.4) | 1.47 | (0.82–2.63) | 1.31 | (0.78–2.23) |
| ≥College graduate | 7.3 | (5.5–9.1) | 0.88 | (0.58–1.35) | 0.73 | (0.47–1.13) | 5.8 | (3.8–7.9) | 1.21 | (0.69–2.11) | 1.09 | (0.58–2.05) |
| Employment status | ||||||||||||
| Employed | 7.9 | (6.4–9.4) | REF | - | REF | - | 4.9 | (3.7–6.2) | REF | - | REF | - |
| Not employed | 9.6 | (7.3–12.0) | 1.20 | (0.73–1.97) | 1.17 | (0.72–1.90) | 5.2 | (3.4–7.0) | 1.10 | (0.71–1.70) | 1.00 | (0.65–1.55) |
| Retired | 10.8 | (8.0–13.6) | 1.40 | (0.96–2.04) | 0.78 | (0.58–1.06) | 8.5 | (5.9–11.1) | 1.77 | (1.15–2.73) | 0.92 | (0.70–1.21) |
| BMI category | ||||||||||||
| Under/normal weight | 6.3 | (4.8–7.7) | REF | - | REF | - | 3.7 | (2.0–5.4) | REF | - | REF | - |
| Overweight | 7.5 | (5.4–9.6) | 1.20 | (0.81–1.79) | 1.18 | (0.84–1.65) | 5.3 | (3.3–7.2) | 1.33 | (0.72–2.48) | 1.39 | (0.73–2.65) |
| Obesity | 11.4 | (9.6–13.3) | 1.94 | (1.30–2.88) | 1.88 | (1.36–2.61) | 7.2 | (5.8–8.6) | 1.88 | (1.10–3.19) | 2.00 | (1.19–3.34) |
Abbreviations: NHANES: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey; OR: crude odds ratio; CI: confidence interval; AOR: adjusted odds ratio; REF: referent group; BMI: body mass index
Includes respondents who reported both sitting for more than 8 hours per day and being physically inactive. Physical inactivity was defined using leisure-time activity only and multi-domain physical activity (leisure-time, occupational/household, and transportation-related).
Weighted percentages.
For leisure-time physical activity, respondents reported the frequency (days per week) and duration (minutes per day) of vigorous- and moderate-intensity “sports, fitness and recreational activities” done for at least 10 minutes continuously in a typical week. Respondents who reported <10 minutes/week of leisure-time physical activity were categorized as inactive.
Includes leisure-time, occupational/household, and transportation-related physical activity. For occupational/household physical activity, respondents reported the frequency (days per week) and duration (minutes per day) of vigorous- and moderate-intensity activities done as part of “paid or unpaid work, household chores, and yard work” for at least 10 minutes continuously in a typical week. For transportation-related physical activity, respondents reported the frequency (days per week) and duration (minutes per day) of “walking or using a bicycle for at least 10 minutes continuously to get to and from places” in a typical week. Respondents who reported <10 minutes/week of combined leisure-time, occupational/household, and transportation-related physical activity were categorized as inactive.
DISCUSSION
From 2007/2008 to 2017/2018, daily sitting time increased overall by 19 minutes per day among US adults, although more recent data points suggest sitting time has decreased over the last 4 to 5 years, showing some improvement. Similar trends were observed among inactive, insufficiently active, and highly active adults regardless of whether only leisure-time activity or multi-domain physical activity were considered. Trends in jointly reporting high sitting time and physical inactivity followed a similar pattern, with the highest prevalence in 2013/2014 and decreasing trends through 2017/2018. Nationwide efforts to implement evidence-based programs and policies to reduce sedentary behavior where adults live, learn, work, and play may help ensure the observed improvement continues.
This study updates previous trend analyses of self-reported sitting time5, 6 with the most recent NHANES data cycle. While previous studies documented an increase of about 40 minutes of daily sitting time between 2007/2008 and 2015/2016,5, 6 the inclusion of the most recent data in our study resulted in a smaller overall increase. We also documented a significant linear decrease in mean sitting time since its peak in 2013/2014. When examining these trends by physical activity levels categorized using two different physical activity measures, findings were similar to those for the overall sample. However, highly active adults using the multi-domain physical activity measure had a consistently lower mean sitting time compared to those who were less active. The magnitude of decreases in sitting time since 2013/2014 across physical activity levels is encouraging, given evidence of elevated mortality risks associated with higher sitting time, particularly among those with lower levels of physical activity.3,15 Future work may focus on continuing these trends, especially among adults who are physically inactive or do not meet the aerobic activity guideline.
Similar to our findings on mean sitting time, the joint prevalence of high sitting time and physical inactivity also peaked in 2013/2014, with progressively lower prevalence in the two cycles since, regardless of which physical activity measure was used. The Guidelines recommend that adults move more and sit less, and physical activity in any domain is considered to be beneficial for health.1 Therefore, the distinction between leisure-time only and multi-domain inactivity is important when calculating the joint prevalence. The joint prevalence of high sitting and physical inactivity may be overestimated when evaluating only physical activity in leisure-time, because some people may be active through non-leisure pursuits. Our findings thus reinforce the importance of multi-domain assessment of physical activity for understanding the true patterns of risk associated with sitting time and low levels of physical activity in the population. Moreover, NHANES assesses overall sitting time but does not separate sitting time into various domains (e.g., work and leisure-time). Population surveillance that quantifies the amount of time US adults spend being sedentary in specific contexts would help to inform domain-specific interventions to reduce sitting time.
Although studies investigating correlates of combined high sitting time and physical inactivity are limited, our findings are generally consistent with previous research that has separately established correlates of high sedentary behavior and low physical activity.10–14 Regardless of the physical activity measure, we found a positive association with older age (ages ≥65 years old compared to 18–34 years) and higher BMI (adults with obesity compared to under/normal weight). Multiple studies have found higher sedentary behavior (in isolation) as well as lower physical activity (in isolation) among older adults compared to younger adults and adults who are overweight or have obesity compared to normal weight adults.10–14 We also found that, compared to White adults, Hispanic adults had lower odds of being both high sitters and physically inactive. Although the existing literature shows that Hispanic adults have lower physical activity levels compared to White adults,8, 17, 18 studies have also demonstrated lower sedentary behavior among Hispanic adults;6 thus, in the present study, the low joint prevalence in this group is likely to be driven by lower sitting time.
Overall, we found the joint prevalence of high sitting time and multi-domain physical inactivity was relatively low and declined since 2013/2014. These are promising findings, as this combination represents the group at highest risk of cardiovascular disease and premature all-cause mortality.2, 3, 15 Still, studies have shown a high volume of physical activity is needed to ameliorate the adverse effects of high sitting time,2, 3, 15 and our findings suggest strategies to increase physical activity levels, reduce sitting time, or a combination of both may be particularly important among adults who are older or have obesity.19 Moreover, recent small-scale studies have found that sedentary behavior has increased and physical activity has decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic, further reinforcing the importance and timeliness of strategies to improve these behaviors.20
This study is subject to at least two limitations. First, estimates of sitting time and physical activity were based on self-reported data, which may be subject to measurement error.21, 22 For example, sedentary behavior that is self-reported using a single-item measure has been shown to be underestimated when compared to accelerometer-derived estimates,14, 21 suggesting that the estimates reported here may not reflect the true population levels of sitting time. Second, the question used to assess sedentary behavior in 2007/2008 was changed slightly in subsequent cycles to exclude time spent reclining. It is uncertain how this change in the question might have affected observed trends. Strengths of this study include the use of a nationally representative sample of adults and the use of a survey that assesses multiple domains of physical activity.
CONCLUSIONS
Since 2007/2008, daily sitting time has increased overall among US adults, although more recent data points suggest sitting has decreased since 2013/2014, as has the joint prevalence of high sitting and inactivity. Similar trends were observed among inactive, insufficiently active, and highly active adults regardless of whether leisure-time only or multi-domain physical activity was considered. Nationwide efforts can help ensure the promising decline in sitting time continues. Older adults and adults with obesity may especially benefit from interventions designed to help adults reduce the time spent sitting and incorporate moderate- to vigorous-intensity activities into their daily routines.
Acknowledgments
No funding was secured for this study. The authors thank Michael Weeks, technical writer-editor, for manuscript editing. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the National Institutes of Health.
Footnotes
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