Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Sedentary behavior
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Sedentary lifestyle is a type of lifestyle most commonly found in modern (particularly Western) cultures. It is characterized by sitting or remaining inactive for most of the day (for example, in an office without any (or little) exercise.
It is believed to be a factor in obesity, and, in doing so, may contribute to other diseases, such as type II diabetes, heart disease, and even hemorrhoids.
The term sedentary in biology applies to organisms and species that are not migratory but rather remain at a single location (permanently fixed or otherwise).
Examples in zoology include such sessile orgasms as barnacles, corals and mussels.
Examples can include the change in telephones. Previously they were connected to cords forcing individuals to get up, but now with cell phones and cordless phones, inactivity and remaining seated occur more regularly.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]