Interpreting the UK physical activity guidelines for children and ...

Guidelines
9
Guideline 3
All children and young people should minimise the
amount of time spent being sedentary (sitting) for
extended periods.
• Sedentary behaviours refer to activities that
typically occur whilst sitting or lying down (not
sleeping) and which require very low levels of
energy expenditure.
• Common sedentary behaviours among children and
young people include travelling by car, watching
television and playing computer or video games.
• Evidence suggests that prolonged periods of
sedentary behaviour are an independent risk factor
for poor health outcomes.
• Even if children and young people are achieving the
recommended levels of physical activity, if they
spend large portions of the remainder of their day
sitting or lying down for extended periods, this is
a risk factor for poor health outcomes in itself
(see page 5).
• Children and young people should be encouraged
to reduce overall sedentary time and also to
break up the amount of time spent sitting still
or lying for long periods. For example, parents
may wish to consider restricting recreational TV/
computer (‘screen’) time, encourage outdoor play,
break up long periods of sitting still by encouraging
other activities – especially when active behaviours
are possible, encourage walking and cycling for
short journeys. Schools may wish to encourage
walking and cycling to school rather than travelling
by car, encourage activity at break times and
consider delivering curriculum areas through more
active approaches.
Making physical activity a priority