Technological Media and Sedentary Behavior in Pediatrics

Children between the ages of 8-18 spend 5-10.5 hours each day engaged in sedentary technological media. This recent cultural shift has left children with little time for unstructured play or physical activity and has been directly correlated to an increase in chronic, non-communicable diseases. This article addresses the effects of a sedentary lifestyle on health outcomes for children and adolescents in America, reviews physical activity guidelines, including national policy, and discusses effective strategies for Pediatric Nurse Practitioners for the health promotion of physical activity through a family, school, and community focus. •Review of sedentary technological media.•National guidelines on physical activity.•Role of the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner.