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European Sitting Championship: Prevalence and Correlates of Self-Reported Sitting Time in the 28 European Union Member States

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  • Anne Loyen
  • Hidde P van der Ploeg
  • Adrian Bauman
  • Johannes Brug
  • Jeroen Lakerveld

Abstract

Objective: Sedentary behaviour is increasingly recognized as an important health risk, but comparable data across Europe are scarce. The objective of this study was to explore the prevalence and correlates of self-reported sitting time in adults across and within the 28 European Union Member States. Methods: This study reports data from the Special Eurobarometer 412. In 2013, 27,919 randomly selected Europeans (approximately 1000 per Member State) were interviewed face-to-face. Sitting time on a usual day was self-reported and dichotomised into sitting less- and more than 7.5 hours per day. Uni- and multivariate odds ratios of sitting more than 7.5 hours per day were assessed by country and socio-demographic variables using binary logistic regression analyses. The analyses were stratified by country to study the socio-demographic correlates of sitting time within the different countries. Results: A total of 26,617 respondents were included in the analyses. Median sitting time was five hours per day. Across Europe, 18.5 percent of the respondents reported to sit more than 7.5 hours per day, with substantial variation between countries (ranging from 8.9 to 32.1 percent). In general, northern European countries reported more sitting than countries in the south of Europe. ‘Current occupation’ and ‘age when stopped education’ were found to be the strongest correlates of sitting time, both across Europe and within most Member States. Compared to manual workers, the odds ratio of sitting more than 7.5 hours per day was 5.00 for people with white collar occupations, 3.84 for students, and 3.65 for managers. Conclusions: There is substantial variation in self-reported sitting time among European adults across countries as well as socio-demographic groups. While regular surveillance of (objectively measured) sedentary behaviour is needed, the results of this study provide entry points for developing targeted interventions aimed at highly sedentary populations, such as people with sedentary occupations.

Suggested Citation

  • Anne Loyen & Hidde P van der Ploeg & Adrian Bauman & Johannes Brug & Jeroen Lakerveld, 2016. "European Sitting Championship: Prevalence and Correlates of Self-Reported Sitting Time in the 28 European Union Member States," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(3), pages 1-17, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0149320
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0149320
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    1. Moreno-Llamas, Antonio & García-Mayor, Jesús & De la Cruz-Sánchez, Ernesto, 2020. "The impact of digital technology development on sitting time across Europe," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    2. Menno Luijkx & Marco Helbich, 2019. "Neighborhood Walkability Is Not Associated with Adults’ Sedentary Behavior in the Residential Setting: Evidence from Breda, The Netherlands," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-12, September.
    3. Jason A Bennie & Katrien De Cocker & Jordan J Smith & Glen H Wiesner, 2020. "The epidemiology of muscle-strengthening exercise in Europe: A 28-country comparison including 280,605 adults," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(11), pages 1-18, November.
    4. Anne Loyen & Tien Chey & Lina Engelen & Adrian Bauman & Jeroen Lakerveld & Hidde P van der Ploeg & Johannes Brug & Josephine Y Chau, 2018. "Recent trends in population levels and correlates of occupational and leisure sitting time in full-time employed Australian adults," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(4), pages 1-10, April.
    5. Szczuka, Zofia & Kulis, Ewa & Boberska, Monika & Banik, Anna & Kruk, Magdalena & Keller, Jan & Knoll, Nina & Scholz, Urte & Abraham, Charles & Luszczynska, Aleksandra, 2021. "Can individual, dyadic, or collaborative planning reduce sedentary behavior? A randomized controlled trial," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 287(C).
    6. H. Q. Chim & Mirjam G. A. oude Egbrink & Pascal W. M. Van Gerven & Renate H. M. de Groot & Bjorn Winkens & Hans H. C. M. Savelberg, 2020. "Academic Schedule and Day-to-Day Variations in Sedentary Behavior and Physical Activity of University Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-16, April.
    7. Lakerveld, Jeroen & Woods, Catherine & Hebestreit, Antje & Brenner, Hermann & Flechtner-Mors, Marion & Harrington, Janas M. & Kamphuis, Carlijn B.M. & Laxy, Michael & Luszczynska, Aleksandra & Mazzocc, 2020. "Advancing the evidence base for public policies impacting on dietary behaviour, physical activity and sedentary behaviour in Europe: The Policy Evaluation Network promoting a multidisciplinary approac," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    8. Charlotte Verdot & Benoît Salanave & Salomé Aubert & Andréa Ramirez Varela & Valérie Deschamps, 2022. "Prevalence of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors in the French Population: Results and Evolution between Two Cross-Sectional Population-Based Studies, 2006 and 2016," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-14, February.
    9. Roger Montenegro Mendoza & Reina Roa & Flavia Fontes & Ilais Moreno Velásquez & Hedley Quintana, 2023. "Physical Inactivity and Sedentary Behaviour among Panamanian Adults: Results from the National Health Survey of Panama (ENSPA) 2019," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(8), pages 1-15, April.

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