简介：Background:Althoughevidenceonthehealtheffectsofsedentarybehavior(SB)hasgrownsystematicallyinrecentyears,fewdevelopingcountrieshavereportedpopulationlevelsofSB,especiallyinSouthAmerica.OurobjectivewastodescribetimespentsittinginarepresentativesamplefromChilecategorizedbyage,gender,educationallevel,andbodymassindex(BMI).Methods:AnationalhealthsurveywasconductedinChileinanationallyrepresentativesample(n=5411)in2009-2010.Sittingtime(ST)wasmeasuredwiththeGlobalPhysicalActivityQuestionnaireVersion2.Results:Datawerefrom5031participants(43.26±0.41years,mean±SE;40.3%male).Overall,therewerenogenderdifferencesinmeanST(men:158.10±5.80min/day,women143.45±4.77min/day;p=0.05).STwaslowerinthosewholivedinruralareascomparedwithurbanareas(99.4min/dayvs.160.0min/day;p=0.001).STincreasedsignificantlywithincreasingBMI,butonlyinmen(p=0.009),andwaspositivelyrelatedtoyearsofeducationinbothmenandwomen(p<0.0001).Conclusion:Thefindingsweredifferentfromthosereportedinothercountriesandcontexts,reinforcingtheneedforinternationalsurveillanceandmonitoringovertimetoinformpolicymakers.DifferencesinSTacrossdifferentgroupsemphasizetheneedtodeveloptailoredmessagesandinterventionsforreducingSTindifferentpopulationsubgroups.