Sedentary behavior, the use of pedometers and how many steps per day are enough : a literature review

• Main Author: Chng, Clarice Hui Min
• Other Authors: Govindasamy Balasekaran
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2018
• Subjects: DRNTU::Science
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/73870
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The outcome from the National Health Survey by Ministry of Health (2010) shows that obesity has risen from 6.9% in 2004 to 10.8% in 2010. The objective of this study is to ascertain ways to prevent the further rise of obesity and to encourage Singaporeans to have a more active lifestyle as it has been found that around 37% of Singaporeans spend more than 8 hours a day sitting down (Aye, Lim, Tan, Chia & Mueller-Riemenschneider, 2015). The method used in this literature review was to conduct searches through Google Scholar and Full Text @ NTU (Nanyang Technology University) Library. The journal articles or other relevant materials found had to be published within the past 10 years and had to be in English language. In another article, Tudor-Locke & Lutes (2009) mentioned that walking is named as a most routine and popular leisure time physical activity by the public. Pedometers and the act of recording the number of steps taken a day by an individual have been established as a key tool in elevating physical activity levels around the world. Studies from Tudor-Locke et al. (refer to Figure 1) have summarized the minimum number of steps that an individual should take and also the daily steps that should be taken in moderate to vigorous physical activity levels. Singaporeans have the National Steps Challenge (NSC) that happens for about 6 months each year which hopes to create a permanent behavior change to help Singaporeans stay active.