Sedentary Behaviour Council

Recognising the important and complementary roles of reducing sedentary behaviour and increasing physical activity for improving global public health, the Sedentary Behaviour Council (SBC) was established to advance science, advocacy, and practice relating to sedentary behaviour and health.

Based on the definition provided by the Sedentary Behaviour Research Network (SBRN), we consider sedentary behaviour to comprise behaviours during waking hours that have low energy expenditure and are performed in a sitting or reclining posture. This is different from low levels of physical activity which should be referred to as ‘physical inactivity’ or ‘insufficient physical activity’

SBC has five core aims:

To advance the science in relation to sedentary behaviour research: stimulate scholarly discourse and support sedentary behaviour research in areas including, but not limited to, measurement, surveillance and aetiology of disease. To facilitate international and trans-disciplinary collaborations to accelerate this scientific advancement.
Contribute to evidence-informed advocacy: contribute to global consensus documentation on the associations of sedentary behaviour with health outcomes and indicators, and on sedentary behaviour prevalence internationally.
Support practice of sedentary behaviour change: facilitate the identification of evidence-informed approaches for changing sedentary behaviours in different settings, and within different geographic regions and population sub-groups.
Contribute to education: provide input into the biannual ISPAH Congress and associated workshops; training courses endorsed by ISPAH; online webinars; and teaching materials.
Building capacity: foster the development of early and mid-career researchers and practitioners through a biannual newsletter, networking events and mentoring programmes.

Joining the Council

You can select to join The Sedentary Behaviour Council when joining or renewing your ISPAH membership. If you are already an ISPAH member and would like to be a member, you can do so in your Membership dashboard.

Paul Mackie

CO-CHAIR OF THE SEDENTARY BEHAVIOUR COUNCIL

Paul is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of British Columbia and is funded by Michael Smith Health Research BC (Canada). His research investigates the effects of an online seated exercise program on balance and mobility outcomes in those with a chronic stroke and mobility impairment.

Audrey Bergouignan

CO-CHAIR OF THE SEDENTARY BEHAVIOUR COUNCIL

Audrey leads the ‘Physiological Adaptations to Gravity & Health” team at the French National Center for Scientific Research (IPHC-CNRS) in Strasbourg, and a Joint International Lab between IPHC-CNRS and University of Colorado Division of Endocrinology