2022
Preventing the ‘24-hour Babel’: the need for a consensus on a consistent terminology scheme for physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep
There is increasing interest in comprehending the integrated health impacts of physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep in the 24-hour cycle. Dr. Ryan Falck and colleagues identified that multiple overlapping terms (i.e. movement behaviors, physical behaviors, time-use behaviors, and 24-hour activity cycle) are used inconsistently in research. In response, Dr. Ryan Falck and colleagues developed the “3Cs approach” to define terminology: clear, concise, and consistent. This serves as a guide for future studies in this area. The authors also argued for a formal and inclusive consensus process to establish standardized definitions and constructs that can be adopted across disciplines, study designs, and sectors.
2025
The Around the Clock Terminology Consortium: A Global Consensus on Terminology to Discuss the 24-Hour Cycle of Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Sleep
There is a need to establish clear, concise, and consistent terminology to define the 24-hour cycle of physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep. Dr. Ryan Falck and colleagues share the progess and goals of the Around the Clock Terminology Consortium (ACT-C). The ACT-C is a group of researchers and key interest-holder organizations who aim to create an inclusive, representative, and international concensus for 24-hour cycle physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep terminology. This article shares the ACT-C values, their achivements so far, and next steps.
