Public health communications about sedentary behaviour

Abstract

A behavioural epidemiology framework purports that public health responses should be informed by research on health associations, prevalence and variations, determinants, and interventions. This framework is used in the first section of this article to provide a brief introduction to sedentary behaviour epidemiology, including 'what' is the problem, 'who' has the problem, and intervention approaches. This evidence base can inform public health communications in terms of identifying message content and the target audience. Three challenges for communicating this evidence base are identified: defining sedentary behaviour and what is 'too much'; differentiating sedentary and inactive; and differentiating the behaviour and the context and understanding associated values. To further inform public health communications, and improve understanding of motivation and support advocacy for change, more research is needed to understand the factors associated with sedentary behaviour other than sociodemographic and health-related correlates.