Relevance of Life Course Epidemiology for Research on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior
Grégore Iven Mielke
Abstract
The importance of physical activity for health, well-being, and the economy is well established. 1 However, much assumed knowledge in this field is based on methods that empirically fail to consider that life circumstances, including physical activity and sedentary behavior, constantly change across the lifespan. To date, most epidemiological research on determinants and health consequences of physical activity and sedentary behavior has relied on the premise that behaviors (eg, physical activity) and social conditions (eg, socioeconomic position) assessed in one time point represent an individual's behavior or condition over the years. With the increased availability of historical data, it is becoming apparent that assumptions about the causes and consequences of physical activity and sedentary behavior may have been overly simplistic. This commentary intends to reinforce the broad appeal of the life course perspective and raise discussions on how physical activity and sedentary behavior research could benefit from complementary approaches and methods of life course epidemiology.