Sedentary Time
Sedentary Time is the cumulative duration spent in waking behaviors characterized by low energy expenditure while in a seated, reclined, or lying posture. Research typically defines sedentary behavior as activities at ≤1.5 METs (metabolic equivalent of task) while awake. The metric represents time spent in minimal-movement states during waking hours, excluding sleep.
Typical Adult Ranges
hoursBased on population studies. Individual needs vary by age and health status.
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Key Takeaways
Represents duration of minimal-movement waking behavior.
Distinct from sleep time and exercise/activity time.
High values indicate substantial stationary waking time.
Common in desk-based occupations and modern lifestyles.
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How It's Measured
Oura detects sedentary time using accelerometer data to identify periods of minimal movement during waking hours.
Common Influences
Occupation: Desk work produces high sedentary time; physically active jobs produce less.
Deep Dive
Sedentary Time represents the duration of minimal-activity waking behavior. It captures time spent sitting, reclining, or otherwise stationary during the day.
A useful framing is that sedentary time measures stillness while awake. Unlike sleep (which is restorative), prolonged sedentary behavior during waking hours represents absence of movement. The metric captures this behavioral pattern—how much of the day involved minimal physical activity.
Sedentary behavior is distinct from insufficient physical activity. A person can meet exercise guidelines while still spending many hours sedentary. Research suggests sedentary time may have independent associations with metabolic health, cardiovascular function, and mortality, though causality and dose-response relationships are still being characterized.
Physiologically, prolonged sitting is associated with reduced muscle activity, lower energy expenditure, and potential impacts on glucose and lipid metabolism. Brief movement breaks may interrupt some of these effects.