Journal article
Terminology for describing the 24-h cycle of physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep: a scoping review
The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity
08/05/2026
DOI: 10.1186/s12966-026-01945-6
Abstract
Background
Physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep are three behaviours which occupy the 24-h cycle and interact to influence a multitude of health outcomes. Different terms are currently used to describe these behaviours collectively (e.g., movement behaviours or physical behaviours). The lack of clear and consistent terminology makes it hard to compare, interpret, and build on research findings. As a first step towards developing consensus on what terminology to use for discussing the 24-h cycle of physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep, we conducted a scoping review to identify the breadth of terminology used to describe this phenomenon.
Methods
All searches occurred between September 18th – 20th 2024. We searched nine databases: Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycInfo, Web of Science, Scopus, ERIC, Education Source, and Compendex from inception to September 18th 2024. The Journal of Activity, Sedentary and Sleep Behaviors and the International Network of Time-Use Epidemiologists (INTUE) publication lists were manually searched on September 19th – 20th 2024. Peer-reviewed articles were included if they 1) were published in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Chinese, Korean, or Japanese; 2) focused on humans; and 3) describe physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep in an integrated manner. We identified different terminologies used for collectively discussing physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep across the 24-h cycle.
Results
Our search identified 10,749 articles of which 979 articles met our inclusion criteria. Across all articles, 199 different terms were used to describe physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep collectively. The term movement behaviours was used in 673 articles, 24-h movement behaviours was used in 457 articles, physical behaviours was used in 58 articles, 24-h activity cycle was used in 36 articles, and time-use behaviours was used in 31 articles.
Conclusions
The two most popular terms for describing the collective interaction of physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep are movement behaviours and 24-h movement behaviours. However, there is not yet an internationally recognized and agreed-upon term for holistically describing the 24-h cycle of physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep. Developing a homogeneous and widely accepted set of terminology and definitions is thus critical if we hope to ensure clarity, enhance reproducibility, and enable the translation of future research into coherent guidelines, policies, and practices for these behaviours.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Terminology for describing the 24-h cycle of physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep: a scoping review
- Creators
- Guilherme M. Balbim - Vancouver Coastal HealthRyan S. Falck - Vancouver Coastal HealthTeresa Liu-Ambrose - Vancouver Coastal HealthChuidan Kong - Vancouver Coastal HealthDavid Zimmon - Vancouver Coastal HealthDaniel Elesin - Vancouver Coastal HealthCassandra D’Amore - Vancouver Coastal HealthJennifer C. Davis - Okanagan University CollegeNucharapon Liangruenrom - Mahidol UniversityMadeline Crowley - Vancouver Coastal HealthNatan Feter - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do SulMatthew N. Ahmadi - The University of SydneyFrancisco B. Ortega - Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and NutritionJairo H. Migueles - Universidad de GranadaJean-Philippe ChaputMeijun Hou - University of British ColumbiaKaiqi Guan - Shenzhen Institute of NeuroscienceGeorge Thomas - The University of QueenslandTahlia Alsop - The University of QueenslandDamian McClymont - The University of QueenslandEmmett Morgante - University of WaterlooRui Cao - Peking UniversityYujie Liu - Peking UniversityXun Luo - Western UniversityZijun Liu - Shenzhen Institute of NeuroscienceConnor Graham - University of WaterlooLauren Centeno Scherer - Universidade Federal de PelotasMaya Nagaishi - InsermLinjing Zhou - Shenzhen Institute of NeuroscienceRebeca Hernández Gamboa - Vancouver Coastal HealthYeon Soo Seo - Vancouver Coastal HealthMatthew Noseworthy - Vancouver Coastal HealthLiye Zou - Shenzhen Institute of NeuroscienceLora Giangregorio - University of WaterlooKaren Spruyt - InsermSjaan R. Gomersall - The University of QueenslandYiqun Gan - Peking UniversityRobert Schinke - Laurentian UniversityShigeru Inoue - Tokyo Medical UniversityTakumi Abe - Meiji UniversityYu-Kai ChangAmy Shirong Lu - Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health SciencesÅsa B Tornberg - Lund UniversityFrank Hookin Fu - Hong Kong Baptist UniversityZhaowei Kong - University of MacauKirk I. Erickson - Translational Research Institute for Metabolism and DiabetesEster Cerin - Australian Catholic UniversityAshleigh E. Smith - The University of AdelaideJasper Schipperijn - University of Southern DenmarkJannique van Uffelen - KU LeuvenAntónio Palmeira - Universidade do PortoMichelle W. Voss - University of IowaDavid W. Dunstan - Deakin UniversityDavid Lubans - Hunter Medical Research InstituteLinda C. Li - Arthritis Research Centre of CanadaJennifer R. Tomasone - Queen's UniversityMiao Miao - Peking UniversityKeerthana Swaminathan - Manipal Academy of Higher EducationVaradayini Gorhe - Persistent Systems (India)Maurelle D’Sa - Edge Hill University
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity
- DOI
- 10.1186/s12966-026-01945-6
- ISSN
- 1479-5868
- eISSN
- 1479-5868
- Publisher
- Springer Nature
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 08/05/2026
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences; Iowa Neuroscience Institute
- Record Identifier
- 9985218625502771
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