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Background:

Sedentary time (ST) has been reported to have a range of negative health effects in adults, however, the evidence for such effects among children and adolescents is sparse. The primary aim of the study was to examine associations between changes in sedentary behavior (time and fragmentation) and changes in adiposity across childhood and adolescence.

Methods:

Participants were recruited as part of the Gateshead Millennium Study. Measures were taken at age 7 (n= 502), 9 (n= 506), 12 (n= 420) and 15 years (n= 306). Participants wore an ActiGraph GT1M and accelerometer epochs were ‘sedentary’when recorded counts were⩽ 25 counts per 15 s. ST was calculated and fragmentation (SF) was assessed by calculating the number of sedentary bouts per sedentary hour. Associations of changes in ST and SF with changes in adiposity (body mass index (BMI), and fat mass index (FMI)) were …