Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Specific Interventions Targeting Sedentary Behaviour in Children and Adolescents

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Sedentary Behaviour Epidemiology

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

Abstract

It has been 17 years since the first interventions to reduce children’s sedentary behaviour were published. However, child and adolescent engagement in sedentary behaviour remains high. There have been more than 40 interventions to reduce children’s and adolescents’ screen time, but strategies to reduce or break up overall sitting throughout the day have been infrequently studied. Reducing sitting in the school setting via active breaks and an active curriculum, and environmental changes in the classroom (e.g. sit–stand desks) show promise. The home and transport settings have infrequently been targeted. Given the pervasiveness of sitting and reclining while at home during waking hours (for homework, hobbies, entertainment, and other purposes) and passive forms of transport such as car travel among children and youth, there is much scope to reduce sitting in these settings. Very few efficacious interventions have been translated into policy or practice. If these interventions are to have a sustained impact on child and adolescent populations, greater consideration of factors facilitating and/or hindering their incorporation into policy and practice is necessary. To successfully implement sedentary behaviour programmes and help children and adolescents meet sedentary behaviour public health recommendations, replication of successful interventions at scale is required. Ideally, cost-effective efficacious strategies need to be integrated into current systems and target not just the individual, but sociocultural norms and physical, organizational, and policy environments to effect lasting and wholesale changes in sedentary behaviour at a population level.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Ridgers ND, Timperio A, Cerin E, Salmon J. Within- and between-day associations between children’s sitting and physical activity time. BMC Public Health. 2015;15:950.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Cliff DP, Hesketh KD, Vella SA, Hinkley T, Tsiros MD, Ridgers ND, et al. Objectively measured sedentary behaviour and health and development in children and adolescents: systematic review and meta-analysis. Obes Rev. 2016;17(4):330–44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Tremblay MS, LeBlanc AG, Kho ME, et al. Systematic review of sedentary behaviour and health indicators in school-aged children and youth. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2011;8:98.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Australian Government Department of Health. Australia’s physical activity and sedentary behaviour guidelines. 2014. http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/content/health-pubhlth-strateg-phys-actguidelines.

  5. Department of Health. UK Physical activity guidelines. Fact sheet 3: children and young people (5–18 years). In: Department of Health, editor. London; 2011. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-physical-activity-guidelines.

  6. Ministry of Health NZ. Physical activity guidelines: children and young people (5–18 years). Auckland: Ministry of Health; 2015.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australian health survey: physical activity, 2011–12. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia; 2013.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Saunders TJ, Chaput JP, Tremblay MS. Sedentary behaviour as an emerging risk factor for cardiometabolic diseases in children and youth. Can J Diabetes. 2014;38:53–61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Durlak JA, DuPre EP. Implementation matters: a review of research on the influence of implementation on program outcomes and the factors affecting implementation. Am J Community Psychol. 2008;41:327–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Milat AJ, Bauman AE, Redman S, Curac N. Public health research outputs from efficacy to dissemination: a bibliometric analysis. BMC Public Health. 2011;11(1):1–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Giles-Corti B, Sallis JF, Sugiyama T, Frank LD, Lowe M, Owen N. Translating active living research into policy and practice: one important pathway to chronic disease prevention. J Public Health Pol. 2015;36:231–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Milat AJ, King L, Bauman AE, Redman S. The concept of scalability: increasing the scale and potential adoption of health promotion interventions into policy and practice. Health Promot Int. 2013;28:285–98.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Brown H, Pearson N, Hume C, Salmon J. A systematic review of intervention effects on potential mediators of children’s physical activity. BMC Public Health. 2013;13(1):165.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Meyers DC, Durlak JA, Wandersman A. The quality implementation framework: a synthesis of critical steps in the implementation process. Am J Community Psychol. 2012;50:462–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Gortmaker SL, Peterson K, Wiecha J, Sobol AM, Dixit S, Fox MK, et al. Reducing obesity via a school-based interdisciplinary intervention among youth. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1999;153:409–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Robinson TN. Reducing children’s television viewing to prevent obesity. A randomised controlled trial. JAMA. 1999;282(16):1561–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Campbell KJ, Hesketh KD. Strategies which aim to positively impact on weight, physical activity, diet and sedentary behaviours in children from zero to five years. A systematic review of the literature. Obes Rev. 2007;8(4):327–38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. DeMattia L, Lemont L, Meurer L. Do interventions to limit sedentary behaviors change behavior and reduce childhood obesity? A critical review of the literature. Obes Rev. 2006;8:69–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Rey-Lopez JP, Vicente-Rodriguez G, Biosca M, Moreno LA. Sedentary behaviour and obesity development in children and adolescents. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2008;18(3):242–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Kamath CC, Vickers KS, Ehrlich A, McGovern L, Johnson J, Singhal V, et al. Clinical review: behavioral interventions to prevent childhood obesity: a systematic review and metaanalyses of randomized trials. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2008;93(12):4606–15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Dennison BA, Russo TJ, Burdick PA, Jenkins PL. An intervention to reduce television viewing by preschool children. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2004;158(2):170–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Campbell K, Lioret S, McNaughton S, Crawford D, Salmon J, Ball K, et al. A parent-focused intervention to reduce infant obesity risk behaviors: a randomized trial. Pediatrics. 2013;131(4):652–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Biddle SJH, Petrolini I, Pearson N. Interventions designed to reduce sedentary behaviours in young people: a review of reviews. Br J Sports Med. 2014;48:182–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Schmidt ME, Haines J, O’Brien A, McDonald J, Price S, Sherry B, et al. Systematic review of effective strategies for reducing screen time among young children. Obesity. 2012;20:1338–54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Ford BS, McDonald TE, Owens AS, Robinson TN. Primary care interventions to reduce television viewing in African-American Children. Am J Prev Med. 2002;22(2):106–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Robinson TN, Killen JD, Kraemer HC, Wilson DM, Matheson DM, Haskell WL, et al. Dance and reducing television viewing to prevent weight gain in African-American girls; the Stanford GEMS pilot study. Ethn Dis. 2003;13:65–77.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Todd MK, Reis-Bergan MJ, Sidman CL, Flohr JA, Jameson-Walker K, Spicer-Bartolau T, et al. Effect of a family-based intervention on electronic media use and body composition among boys aged 8-11 years: a pilot study. J Child Health Care. 2008;12(4):344–58.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Epstein LH, Roemmich JN, Robinson JL, Paluch RA, Winiewicz DD, Fuerch JH, et al. A randomized trial of the effects of reducing television viewing and computer use on body mass index in young children. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2008;162(3):239–45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Ni Mhurchu C, Roberts V, Maddison R, Dorey E, Jiang Y, Jull A, et al. Effect of electronic time monitors on children’s television watching: pilot trial of a home-based intervention. Prev Med. 2009;49:413–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Li S, Treuth MS, Wang Y. How active are American adolescents and have they become less active? Obes Rev. 2010;11(12):847–62.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Van der Ploeg HP, Merom D, Corpuz G, Bauman AE. Trends in Australian children traveling to school 1971–2003: Burning petrol or carbohydrates? Prev Med. 2008;46:60–2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. UK Office for National Statistics. Social trends no. 40. Office for National Statistics. London: Plgrave Macmillan; 2010.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Chillón P, Evenson KR, Vaughn A, Ward DS. A systematic review of interventions for promoting active transportation to school. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2011;8:10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Wen LM, Fry D, Merom D, Rissel C, Dirkis H, Balafas A. Increasing active travel to school: are we on the right track? A cluster randomised controlled trial from Sydney,Australia. Prev Med. 2008;47:612–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Zaccari V, Dirkis H. Walking to school in inner Sydney. Health Promot J Aust. 2003;14:137–40.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Rowland D, DiGuiseppi C, Gross M, Afolabi E, Roberts I. Randomised controlled trial of site specific advice on school travel patterns. Arch Dis Child. 2003;88:8–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Hofferth SL, Sandberg JF. Changes in American children’s time, 1981–1997. In: Owens TJ, Hofferth SL, editors. Children at the millennium: where have we come from? Where are we going? New York: Elsevier Science; 2001. p. 336.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Minges KE, Chao AM, Irwin ML, Owen N, Park C, Whittemore R, et al. Classroom standing desks and sedentary behavior: a systematic review. Pediatrics. 2016;137(2):1–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Hinckson E, Salmon J, Benden M, Clemes SA, Sudholz B, Barber SE, et al. Standing classrooms: research and lessons learned from around the world. Sports Med. 2016;46(7):977–87.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Glasgow RE, Green LW, Taylor MV, Stange KC. An evidence integration triangle for aligning science with policy and practice. Am J Prev Med. 2012;42:646–54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Singh AS, Chinapaw MJ, Brug J, van Mechelen W. Dutch obesity intervention in teenagers: effectiveness of a school-based program on body composition and behavior. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2009;163:309–17.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Van Nassau F, Singh AS, Cerin E, Salmon J, van Mechelen W, Brug J, et al. The Dutch Obesity Intervention in Teenagers (DOiT) cluster controlled implementation trial: intervention effects and mediators and moderators of adiposity and energy balance-related behaviours. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2014;11:158.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Salmon J, Ball K, Hume C, Booth M, Crawford D. Outcomes of a group randomised trial to prevent excess weight gain, reduce screen behaviours, and promote physical activity in 10-year-old children: switch-play. Int J Obesity. 2008;32:601–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Salmon J, Jorna M, Hume C, Arundell L, Chahine N, Tienstra M, et al. A translational research intervention to reduce screen behaviors and promote physical activity among children: Switch-2-Activity. Health Promot Int. 2011;26:311–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. LeBlanc AG, Chaput JP, McFarlane A, Colley RC, Thivel D, Biddle SJH, et al. Active video games and health indicators in children and youth: a systematic review. PLoS One. 2013;8(6):e65351.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. McDonald NC, Brown AL, Marchetti LM, Pedroso M. U.S. school travel, 2009. An assessment of trends. Am J Prev Med. 2011;41(2):146–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Voss C, Winters M, Frazer AD, McKay HA. They go straight home – don’t they? Using global positioning systems to assess adolescent school-travel patterns. J Transp Health. 2014;1(4):282–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University, Burwood, Australia

    Jo Salmon, Harriet Koorts & Anna Timperio

Authors
  1. Jo Salmon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Harriet Koorts
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Anna Timperio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jo Salmon .

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

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Salmon, J., Koorts, H., Timperio, A. (2018). Specific Interventions Targeting Sedentary Behaviour in Children and Adolescents. 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_17

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-61552-3_17

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-61550-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-61552-3

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation