Research
Mixed
Higher time spent in sedentary behavior is associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity, and CVD mortality in adults, independent of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA).
Minimize prolonged sitting. Break up long periods of sitting with light activity or standing. While meeting physical activity guidelines is essential, reducing total sedentary time offers additional cardiovascular protection.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
Evidence is accumulating that sedentary behavior might be associated with increased cardiovascular-specific and overall mortality... evidence is still accumulating regarding the strength of the association... and the support for dose-response relationships that demonstrate sedentary behavior to be an independent risk factor for adverse health outcomes.
Why this rating
Based on multiple large prospective cohort studies and meta-analyses, though the authors note that biological mechanisms are still evolving.
Source
Sedentary Behavior and Cardiovascular Morbidity and Mortality: A Science Advisory From the American Heart Association
Deborah Rohm Young et al. · Circulation · 2016
DOI 10.1161/cir.0000000000000440
clinical_guidelineCited 797×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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- Sedentary behavior is defined as any waking behavior characterized by an energy expenditure ≤1.5 metabolic equivalents (METs) while in a sitting or reclining posture, and it is distinct from moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA).Strong
- High sedentary behavior is associated with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus, independent of demographic factors and adiposity indices, although BMI partially mediates this effect.Good
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