Evidence on the detrimental health effects of prolonged sedentary behavior is accumulating. Interventions need to have a specific focus on sedentary behavior in order to generate clinically meaningful decreases in sedentary time. When evaluating such intervention, the question whether a participant improved or deteriorated their behavior is fundamental and instruments that are able to detect those changes are essential. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the criterion validity against activPAL and responsiveness to change of two activity monitors (ActiGraph and activPAL) and two questionnaires for the assessment of occupational sitting and standing time.

Gestational diabetes mellitus is associated with increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes. Despite this relationship, ways to prevent gestational diabetes mellitus remain unproven. A recent multicenter pilot study, which was co-authored by Judith Jelsma and Mireille van Poppel from our group, compared the impact of three lifestyle interventions on gestational diabetes mellitus risk; healthy eating [HE], physical activity [PA], and both HE and PA [HE+PA].

The relationship between physical activity and academic performance is a hot topic in contemporary PA literature. Does PA lead to an increased ability to study and acquire cognitive skills? The discussion is still open, and evidence for an acute effect of physical activity on cognitive performance within the school setting is limited. We set out to provide previously untold arguments in favour of PA. The purpose of this study was to gain insight into acute effects of a short physical activity bout on selective attention in primary school children, specifically in the school setting.