Feasibility of Reducing Older Adults' Sedentary Time

Background Sedentary time (too much sitting, as distinct from lack of exercise) is a prevalent risk to health among older adults. Purpose Examine the feasibility of an intervention to reduce and break up sedentary time in older adults. Design A pre-experimental (pre–post) study. Setting/participants A total of 59 participants aged ≥60 years from Brisbane, Australia. Data were collected between May and December 2009 and analyzed in 2010. Intervention One face-to-face goal-setting consultation and one individually tailored mailing providing feedback on accelerometer-derived sedentary time, grounded in social cognitive theory and behavioral choice theory. Main outcome measures Program reach and retention; changes in accelerometer-derived sedentary time, light-intensity physical activity (LIPA), and moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) (assessed over 6 days in pre- and post-intervention periods); and participant satisfaction. Results Reach was 87.5% of those screened and eligible; retention was 100%. From pre- to post-intervention, participants decreased their sedentary time [–3.2% (95% CI= –4.18, –2.14), p