Sedentary behaviors and youth (2014)

This review examines trends in sedentary behaviors among youth and their impact on obesity. It also explores differences in the prevalence of sedentary behaviors based on age, gender, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.
Research shows the amount of time young people spend in sedentary behaviors has increased in recent years, and while this includes TV time, it is a dramatic increase in other types of screen time, such as computers and video games, that appears to be driving the trend.
National guidelines recommend at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity every day for children and teens, but the majority of young people do not meet that goal. Spending excessive time engaging in sedentary behaviors, such as watching TV, playing video games, and other screen time activities, contributes to the problem. Sedentary behaviors are linked with higher risk for obesity, diabetes, and other chronic health problems among adults, even among those who are physically active and have healthy diets.