Technically speaking, it means sitting a lot without much movement. It is usually used in a health context to mean a lifestyle without a lot of movement or exercise. This is common in our computer age, and isn't that great for our health.
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A sedentary person is someone who lives in a single place for a extended period of time ( many years )opposed to Nomadic people who move very frequently.
Sedentary people practice agriculture where as Nomadic people can not because they move so frequently they do not have to time to practice agriculture.
I believe sedentary life began in the ancient civilization of Mesopotamia because they learnt about agriculture and that you could grow food, there for they had no need to be Nomadic any more.
Usually this means not physically active. For example, a doctor may ask you to describe your fitness level or how much exercise you get at work. If you work at a desk typing in number, go home and watch television and the only lifting you do is a remote control, you are sedentary. If you have that same job but go to the gym for two twenty minute workout sessions and enjoy walking in the mall, you're somewhat active. If you work at a loading dock, enjoy practicing kung-fu three nights a week and do a lot of kayaking, you are very active. My father likes to say he suffers from "Sedentary Lethargitis", a fictionally named condition which redundantly means sitting there and being lazy.
a sedentary lifestyle is comprised of limited or no activity coupled with poor diet.