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What Works in Sedentary Behavior Interventions for Youth: A Review of Reviews

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Abstract

Previous reviews have summarized the results of interventions aimed at reducing sedentary behavior among youth, but evidence-based best practice is needed. This systematic review aimed to synthesize evidence to determine which intervention strategies/characteristics are powerful in reducing sedentary behavior among children and adolescents. Eight electronic databases were used. The eligibility criteria were systematic reviews (published in English, Spanish and Portuguese) that analyzed clinical trials to reduce sedentary behavior in young people (age ≤ 18 years). Twenty-nine studies were included. Eleven out of 29 previous reviews had low methodological quality. Almost all reviews reported that interventions were effective in reducing sedentary behavior; however, most of them (26 reviews) had limited evidence due to the inconsistency of results, low methodological quality and/or small sample size. School have been the most used context and strategies that involve family, used control devices, educational materials and standing desks show effectiveness. However, other answers are still unclear, such as the effectiveness of interventions for different types of sedentary behaviors (e.g., TV time), the necessary length for intervention, and the effectiveness of mediators. Thus, future and high-quality studies should consider addressing such questions in order to support evidence-based interventions to reduce sedentary behavior.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the authors of previous reviews who contributed important information.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Centre in Physical Activity and Health, School of Sports, Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Campus Universitário – Trindade, Florianópolis, SC, 88040-900, Brazil

    Priscila Cristina dos Santos, Jaqueline Aragoni da Silva, Alexsandra da Silva Bandeira, Giseli Minatto & Kelly Samara da Silva

  2. Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Ceara, Boa Viagem, Brazil

    Valter Cordeiro Barbosa Filho

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  1. Priscila Cristina dos Santos
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  2. Valter Cordeiro Barbosa Filho
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  3. Jaqueline Aragoni da Silva
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Contributions

PCS participated in all stages of the study, including review design, searching and screening of studies, data extraction, methodological quality assessment and draft the first version of the review. JAS, AB and VCBF participated in review design, searching and screening of studies, methodological quality assessment and contributed to the text. GM and KSS participated in review design, data extraction and contributed to the text. All authors approved the final version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Priscila Cristina dos Santos.

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dos Santos, P.C., Barbosa Filho, V.C., da Silva, J.A. et al. What Works in Sedentary Behavior Interventions for Youth: A Review of Reviews. Adolescent Res Rev 4, 267–292 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40894-018-0105-4

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