Reference no: EM132888622

Sedentary behaviour is defined as any waking activity that involves the expenditure of < 1.5 metabolic equivalents while in a sitting, lying or reclining position. Reduced prolonged sedentary behaviour (> 6 hours per day) has been found to improve negative health outcomes such as obesity, cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome. Louise wants to test the effectiveness of two interventions developed to reduce sedentary behaviour in university students. Twenty-four undergraduate students were invited to take part in the study and were randomised into one of two groups: skills-based training or education-based training. Participants in the skills-based training group were taught skills such as standing techniques while completing traditionally sedentary tasks. Participants in the education group were provided online talks by sedentary behaviour experts on the dangers of prolonged sedentary behaviour and the importance of reducing it.

Louise is interested in the following:

Discussion 1: Are sedentary behaviour scores significantly different depending on what group students were in? Are there significant differences between sedentary behaviour scores at baseline and follow-up?

Discussion 2: Do sedentary behaviour scores differ significantly as a function of the interaction between intervention group and time? Louise has assessed sedentary behaviour by measuring students' time spent sedentary per week using the sedentary behaviour section of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Each student had their weekly sedentary time measured at baseline and follow-up.