Recently, the first Canadian 24-hour movement guidelines for adults have been published, considering physical activity, sedentary behaviors and sleep together.

In countries like New Zealand, Australia or South Africa they are moving in the same direction. Do we have to follow them?

It has been known for many years that physical activity provides health benefits.

However, the knowledge of the damage generated by sedentary behavior is more new; although, the evidence in this regard is less (around the Canadian guidelines, the debate has been opened: A and B), and it is being analyzed whether, through physical activity, we can compensate for the damage generated by sedentary behavior. This is what was shown in the B:

The new Canadian guidelines bring some innovations, but I think the most important thing is to include sleep. In my opinion, it is something that provides coherence to the discourse, and specifically limits our field of work. I made the same proposal in the Bigarren Urrats report referring to the scope of work of the future Basque Agency for Physical Activity, and also in the analysis that we are carrying out in the Global Matrix.

In physical activity promotion, I observe a tendency to mix different topics: diet, consumption of toxic substances, social relationships, general well-being... until we fall into the endless well of healthy life debate.

In my opinion, the 24-hour movement guidelines specify the scope of work with full consistency.

Furthermore, it is undeniable that physical activity, sedentary behavior and sleep are intimately interrelated, since an increase in one generates a decrease in at least one of the other two.

In another time, the message “move more” was spread. Later came “sit less”. Perhaps now the recommendation needs to be completed in this way: move more, sit less and sleep long and deep