Non-Occupational Sedentary Behaviors: Population Changes in the Netherlands, 1975–2005

BackgroundEvidence is accumulating that sedentary behaviors have detrimental health effects. Comprehensive data on population changes in various sedentary behaviors over time are scarce.PurposeThis study aimed to determine changes in non-occupational sedentary behaviors in the Dutch adult population between 1975 and 2005.MethodsThe National Time Use Survey of the Netherlands was used, which has been collected in 5-year intervals since 1975 (seven time points, n range=1017–2845). Adult participants completed a 7-day time-use diary in which they recorded their primary activity in 15-minute intervals throughout or at the end of the day. A validated method was used to determine time spent in various non-occupational sedentary behaviors. Population-weighted analyses determining changes over time in various sedentary behaviors were carried out in 2011 and 2012.ResultsBetween 1975 and 2005, the proportion of non-occupational time spent sedentary remained relatively constant at ∼60%. However, absolute time decreased, because of a 4.7-hour/week increase in occupational time. Sedentary occupational time could not be studied but has likely increased over these 3 decades. Most non-occupational sedentary behavior was during leisure, and the proportion of sedentary leisure time that comes from screen time increased from 26% in 1975 to 43% in 2005. Between 1975 and 2005, sedentary transport increased by 2 hours/week.ConclusionsThe nature and distribution of sedentary behaviors in the Dutch adult population changed substantially over 3 decades. Screen-based activities are playing an increasingly dominant role.