Meet the editors

Adilson Marques is an assistant professor at the University of Lisbon, Portugal. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees in Physical Education, a master's in Public Health, a Ph.D. in Sciences of Education, a Ph.D. in Sports Science, and a Ph.D. in Health Sciences. Dr. Marques was a physical education teacher for nine years. His main research interests are health promotion, correlates of physical activity, fitness, sedentary behaviour, and

physical education. He has published several international peer-reviewed articles and has been an investigator in several research projects. He is a reviewer for several scientific journals in the field of sports science and health promotion. He is a member of the National Physical Activity Promotion Program at the Portuguese Ministry of Health.

Élvio Rúbio Gouveia has a degree in Physical Education, a master's in Physical Education, and a Ph.D. in Sport Sciences. Currently, Dr. Gouveia is an assistant professor at the University of Madeira, Portugal, and vice president of the Interactive Technologies Institute, a research unit from the Laboratory of Robotics and Engineering Systems. He also collaborates with the Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerability,

University of Geneva, Switzerland. He has been working on developing and evaluating strategies to promote physical activity, fitness, and quality of life. With a focus on the physiological assessment of human fitness and the promotion of healthy ageing, his research is grounded on a multidisciplinary approach to several issues that affect healthy fitness.

Contents

and Current Recommendations

Methods of Assessing Sedentary Behaviour

of Prolonged Sitting on People's Health

Activity and Breaking-Up Sedentary Behavior

How to Reduce Sedentary Behavior at All Life Domains *by Olga López Torres, Pablo Lobo, Valeria Baigún* 

and Youth in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Narrative Review

*and Adilson Marques*

*and Adilson Marques*

*by Bochen Jia*

*by Imtiyaz Ali Mir*

*and Gabriela F. De Roia*

*by Lucy-Joy Wachira*

**Preface XI**

**Chapter 1 1**

**Chapter 2 19**

**Chapter 3 39**

**Chapter 4 53**

**Chapter 5 73**

**Chapter 6 95**

Sedentary Behaviour: Definition, Determinants, Impacts on Health,

*by Priscila Marconcin, Pedro B. Júdice, Gerson Ferrari, André Werneck* 

The Application of EMG-Based Methods in Evaluating the Impact

Sedentary Behavior, Cardiovascular Risk and Importance of Physical

Lifestyle Transition towards Sedentary Behavior among Children

*by Priscila Marconcin, Vera Zymbal, Élvio R. Gouveia, Bruce Jones* 

## Contents


Preface

Movement behaviours, such as physical activity and sedentary behaviour, are an important public health topic. Physical activity is the most well-known of those behaviours, and its health benefits are unequivocal [1]. However, there is a growing

The interest in studying sedentary behaviour derives primarily from its association to several health outcomes, independent of physical activity, including cardiovascular and metabolic diseases (diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity) [2], cancer [3] and mental health [4]. More precisely, there is increasing evidence of the adverse health effects of excessive sedentary behaviour [5–7]. This evidence is mainly seen for common sedentary behaviours, such as screen time (e.g., TV viewing, video game playing, computer use) and sitting time (e.g., riding in automobiles, reading). Taking this evidence into account, for the first time in 2020, the World Health Organization issued global recommendations for sedentary time alongside physical activity recommendations [1]. These recommendations state that the amount of time spent sedentary should be limited, particularly recreational screen time, and replaced with physical activity of any intensity.

As an emerging research topic, methods of assessing sedentary behaviour have advanced significantly in recent years, from the refinement of self-report measures to the swift advances of device-based measurement [8]. These adequate methods have helped better understand sedentary behaviour's accumulation patterns and contexts, determinants and associations. Notwithstanding, new evidence on sedentary behaviour is ever-growing. The complementarity of evidence regarding sedentary behaviour measurement, mechanisms, and interventions should be emphasized to inform public

The study of sedentary behaviour is of importance, now more than ever. As our knowledge of this behaviour is rapidly advancing, more questions arise. Therefore, there is still room to grow and avenues to explore for developing and refining the understanding of sedentary behaviour. Thus, this book contributes to better understanding of sedentary behaviour and its health implications, both in Western countries and in some countries in epidemiological transition, such as those in sub-Saharan Africa. It contains the current definitions of sedentary behaviour and the various methods used for its measurement and evaluation. As sedentary behaviour is a risk factor for health, it is essential to understand the benefits of its constant interruption, especially in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. This book intends to make a small contribution in these areas, presenting the

**Adilson Marques**

Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal

**Élvio Rúbio Gouveia** Universidade da Madeira, Funchal, Portugal

Faculdade de Motricidade Humana,

health guidelines and policy better [8].

reader with recent scientific evidence.

interest in the research of sedentary behaviour around the world.
