GLOBAL LEVELS AND PATTERNS OF SEDENTARY BEHAVIOUR IN CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS, ADULTS, AND OLDER ADULTS

The literature on levels and patterns of sedentary behaviour across the globe is vast and disparate, encompassing levels and patterns across different ages, countries, sexes, economic positions, and under representative populations. Moreover, it encompasses varying levels and patterns across different domains of sedentary behaviour (e.g., TV viewing, occupational, transportation) and collated via different measurement tools (e.g., device-measured versus self-report). The present chapter aims to give a general overview of global levels and patterns of sedentary behaviour in children, adolescents, and adults. Other chapters in this book will focus more on the nuanced topics such as measurement of sedentary behaviour and levels of sedentary behaviour among those with chronic conditions (e.g. Chapter 5). Ultimately, this chapter highlights that global levels of sedentary behaviour across all age groups are worryingly high and the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has further fuelled the sedentary lifestyles that so many of us lead. Future and continuous research is now needed to observe any changes in sedentary behaviour across all age groups and all world regions as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond into future years. Only by understanding levels and patterns of sedentary behaviours and fluctuations owing to global events can we successfully intervene to reduce sedentary behaviour to improve health and wellbeing for all.