2012 Physical Activity Forum on Sedentary Behaviour

REGISTER NOW for the 2012 PHYSICAL ACTIVITY FORUM!

New Ways of Thinking to Get People Moving: Using positive health to rethink workplaces and play

May 1st- Edmonton
May 3rd- Calgary

This year, our forum offers a dynamic and timely presentation by Dr. Grant Schofield, who will outline some fresh, exciting ways to see the world and get it moving again! The main focus will be looking at new ways to get adults moving in their workplaces and children moving in our neighbourhoods.

Drawing upon his knowledge of positive psychology and positive health, Dr. Schofield will outline different ideas and approaches that can help people flourish. Dr. Schofield is Professor of Public Health at Auckland University of Technology (AUT) in Auckland, New Zealand. He founded and directs the Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition at AUT.

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Thank you, and see you at the Forum!

Canadian Sedentary Guidelines for Children and Youth-helping us to work across the “movement spectrum”

We know that most of our waking day is primarily sedentary activities. We also know that too much sedentary time has negative consequences on our health. In fact I have blogged about sedentary behaviour before… and the importance of trying to limit our sedentary time or activities.

Well, the good folks at CSEP were able to review current research connecting the health of children and youth to sedentary behaviours.
From this review they were able to provide the Canadian Sedentary Guidelines for Children and Youth. I encourage you to check them out.

So how do the Sedentary Guidelines differ from the Physical Activity Guidelines? What does this mean to us, as practitioners?

Both guidelines want children and youth to be more active. However, each guideline is addressing a different behaviour. The best explanation I have heard, is that by having both guidelines allows us to promote and encourage behaviour change along the “movement spectrum”.

The Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines address increasing physical activity behaviours in order to see health benefits. They provide recommendations regarding how often, how long and how intense children and youth should be physically active. These guidelines look at adding a positive behaviour.

The Sedentary Guidelines however, are looking at the other end of the “movement spectrum” (inactivity). They provide recommendations on limiting sedentary behaviours, such as watching TV, video games, driving to school. They indicate that sedentary behaviours not only need to be limited but also replaced with more movement orientated activities, such as active play with family and friends and walking or cycling to school. These guidelines look at limiting a negative behaviour.

In a perfect world both guidelines should be met. But in the practical world, you and I know that it may not always be that easy.

So what does this mean for us as practitioners? Well, I would consider the Sedentary Guidelines as another tool in your tool box. There may be times when trying to “add” in more physical activity is not necessarily helpful in creating change. What may be more appropriate is to focus on the behaviours we want to reduce (sedentary activities).

For example:
Perhaps you are working directly with kids who are not physically active. It may be difficult for them to meet the physical activity guidelines, and it may be hard for you to get them excited about being more active. If this is the case, you could take a different approach and use the Sedentary Guidelines as your goal.

Or, perhaps you are working with a youth program and the leaders who run it, where sports and fitness are not a key component (such as computer, music, arts and crafts etc). Instead of trying to push physical activity on a program which may not want to incorporate it, you could advocate the program to limit sedentary time as much as possible. Such as, limiting how long the students spend sitting.

I can think of many more examples where the Sedentary Guidelines may be more appropriate, but I would rather hear your ideas. When do you focus on limiting sedentary behaviour?

The bottom line, the Canadian Physical Activity and Sedentary Guidelines allow you to alter your approach to best suit the needs of the people you are trying to reach.

Try a new approach: Step Away From The TV

Discussions about sedentary behaviour seem to be growing in the physical activity field.

Focusing on sedentary behaviours does make some sense. Obviously, when we are busy being sedentary, we are not being active. So perhaps the sedentary behaviour is one we should tackle.

Some researchers are even looking at the health risks of being too sedentary (Check out this Research Update). Other researchers have even examined interventions which focus on decreasing sedentary time, especially with children and youth.

So what are examples of sedentary behaviour?

• Driving our cars.
• Watching television.
• Playing video games (though there are now some which require some movement)
• Working or playing on the computer (which is what I am doing right now).
• Time at work. More and more jobs are sedentary. Sitting (and in some cases standing) in one place pretty much all day.
• Anything that prevents us from moving.

Many professionals in my field spend time and effort promoting and creating opportunities for physical activity. We often talk about how people can and should fit activity into their lives. Cycle to work! Go for a walk! Play a sport! Take a fitness class! Move more!

It seems simple when we say these things, but in reality it isn’t simple to achieve. Most of Canadians are not physically active to see any benefits.

Well, what if we threw in another approach? What is we spent some time on the actual behaviour we want to get rid of- the sedentary behaviour. Perhaps we could encourage people to find ways to be less sedentary during their day.

The theory of this logic: If people reduced their sedentary time, they will create more time to be active.

So what do I mean by reducing sedentary time?
• Reduce how much TV you watch
• Decrease your leisure time on the computer.
• Find ways to not be sitting all day at work. (Standing meetings, place your garbage can on the opposite side of the room, walk to your colleagues desk instead of sending an email).
• Limit the time we are in the car (i.e. try to walk more from store to store rather than drive to each one)

Perhaps re-framing the physical activity discussion to include examining our sedentary behaviour may in fact help some people to ultimately move more.

Now get away from your computer!