Reducing sedentary behavior in overweight and obese youth: intervention studies on cardiometabolic health outcomes

Abstract

Existing literature concerning the sedentary lifestyle behaviors observed in children and adolescents is exhaustive. It is well documented that sedentary behavior contributes toward body composition (overweight BMI, obesity) which is further associated with poor cardiometabolic health outcomes (metabolic syndrome, diabetes, hypertension, etc.). However, the intervention studies designed to help overweight and obese youth implement lifestyle changes vary significantly in approach, and there are few that primarily aim to reduce sedentary behavior. Upon analysis of lifestyle intervention studies, those that focus particularly on a reduction in sedentary behavior (rather than other methods such as increasing quality/quantity of physical activity, sleep, and improving diet) result in successful cardiometabolic health outcomes. The findings of this review of intervention studies suggests that reducing sedentary behavior in youth should be pursued as the primary method to improve cardiometabolic health outcomes relative to other approaches, and is arguably the most efficient and acceptable way to influence energy expenditure in youth. In other words, reducing sedentary behavior for youth provides the greatest "return on investment" when it comes to modifying lifestyle behaviors.