Sit less (sedentary behaviour)
What is a sedentary behaviour?
Sedentary behaviour is the time when a person is doing very little physical movement. Examples of sedentary behaviour include:
- sitting for long periods
- inactive transportation (for example, sitting in a car)
- sitting or reclining in a stroller or car seat
- watching television
- playing video games
- using the computer
For healthy growth and development, the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology recommends that the time children and youth spend being sedentary needs to be minimized during waking hours, especially when it comes to screen time. Screen time is one of the most common reasons that we are sedentary. Screen time includes:
- working on a computer
- watching television or movies
- playing videogames
- using a mobile device or tablet
My kids get a lot of physical activity. Do sedentary behaviours still matter?
Even if children and youth are meeting the guidelines for physical activity, spending too much time being sedentary can have a negative effect on health. Encourage them to break up the time they spend sitting by standing and moving during television commercials, walking, playing with friends during lunch or recess breaks, or engaging in active transportation (for example, walking, cycling or skateboarding) to and from school.
How much sedentary time is recommended?
Children 0 to 4 years of age should not be restrained for more than 1 hour at a time (for example, in a stroller or highchair). When young children are sedentary, activities such as reading and storytelling with a caregiver are encouraged.
Children and youth 5 to 17 years should limit their sitting for extended periods of time. Trade indoor time for outdoor time and replace sedentary behaviours and light physical activity with more moderate to vigorous activity for greater health benefits.
Adults 18 years of age and older should breakup long periods of sitting as often as possible. Replacing sedentary behaviour with additional physical activity will be beneficial to adults’ health.
Sedentary screen time also has health impacts. Learn more about screen time.
This item was last modified on December 20, 2024