Effects of a Minimal Workplace Intervention to Reduce Sedentary Behaviors and Improve Perceived Wellness in Middle-Aged Women Office Workers

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 838-844 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joyan L. Urda ◽  
Jeffrey S. Lynn ◽  
Andrea Gorman ◽  
Beth Larouere
Keyword(s):  
Activity Monitor ◽  
Work Hours ◽  
Office Workers ◽  
Sitting Time ◽  
University Staff ◽  
Sedentary Behaviors ◽  
Sit To Stand ◽  
Control Intervention ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Perceived Wellness

Background:The purpose of this study was to determine whether an alert to get up once per hour while at work would reduce sitting time, increase sit-to-stand transitions, and improve perceived wellness in women with sedentary jobs.Methods:Female university staff and administrators (48 ± 10 years) were randomly assigned to control-control (CC) (n = 22) or control-intervention (CI) (n = 22) groups. Both used a thigh-worn postural-based activity monitor for 2 weeks. The CC group maintained normal behaviors, whereas the CI group maintained behaviors during control week, but received hourly alerts on their computer during work hours in the intervention week. Time sitting and sit-to-stand transitions during an 8.5-hour workday were examined. A perceived wellness survey was completed at baseline and after the control and intervention weeks.Results:Among all participants (N = 44) during the control week, 68% of the workday was spent sitting and 41 sit-to-stand transitions occurred. An analysis of variance revealed no statistically significant differences in variables over time (P > .05). There was a significant increase in perceived wellness from baseline in both groups (P ≤ .05). Perceived wellness showed no statistically significant difference between groups.Conclusions:The intervention had no statistically significant effect on sitting time or sit-to-stand transitions. Participation improved perceived wellness in the absence of behavior change.

scholarly journals Sedentary Behaviors and Biomarkers Among Breast Cancer Survivors

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheri J. Hartman ◽  
Catherine R. Marinac ◽  
Lisa Cadmus-Bertram ◽  
Jacqueline Kerr ◽  
Loki Natarajan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Insulin Resistance ◽  
Breast Cancer Risk ◽  
Cancer Risk ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Sedentary Behavior ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Sitting Time ◽  
Sedentary Behaviors ◽  
Sit To Stand

Background: Sedentary behavior is associated with increased risk of poor outcomes in breast cancer survivors, but underlying mechanisms are not well understood. This pilot study explored associations between different aspects of sedentary behaviors (sitting, prolonged sitting, sit-to-stand transitions, and standing) and breast cancer risk-related biomarkers in breast cancer survivors (n = 30). Methods: Sedentary behavior variables were objectively measured with thigh-worn activPALs. Breast cancer risk-related biomarkers assessed were C-reactive protein (CRP), insulin, and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and were measured in fasting plasma samples. Linear regression models were used to investigate associations between sedentary behavior variables and biomarkers (log CRP, insulin, and HOMA-IR). Results: Sit-to-stand transitions were significantly associated with insulin resistance biomarkers (P < .05). Specifically, each 10 additional sit-to-stand transitions per day was associated with a lower fasting insulin concentration (β = −5.52; 95% CI, −9.79 to −1.24) and a lower HOMA-IR value (β = −0.22; 95% CI, −0.42 to −0.03). Sit-to-stand transitions were not significantly associated with CRP concentration (P = .08). Total sitting time, long sitting bouts, and standing time were not significantly associated with CRP, insulin, or HOMA-IR (P > .05). Conclusions: Sit-to-stand transitions may be an intervention target for reducing insulin resistance in breast cancer survivors, which may have favorable downstream effects on cancer prognosis.

Are We Chained to Our Desks? Describing Desk-Based Sitting Using a Novel Measure of Occupational Sitting

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1318-1323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gemma Cathrine Ryde ◽  
Helen Elizabeth Brown ◽  
Nicholas David Gilson ◽  
Wendy J. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Work Hours ◽  
Poor Health ◽  
Sitting Time ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Detailed Data ◽  
Occupational Sitting ◽  
Sit To Stand ◽  
Office Employees ◽  
Work Contexts

Background:Prolonged occupational sitting is related to poor health outcomes. Detailed data on sitting time at desks are required to understand and effectively influence occupational sitting habits.Methods:Full-time office employees were recruited (n = 105; mean age 40.9 ± 11.5 years; BMI 26.1 ± 3.9, 65% women). Sitting at the desk and in other work contexts was measured using a sitting pad and ActivPAL for an entire working week. Employees used a diary to record work hours. Time spent at work, sitting at work and at the desk; number of sit to stand transitions at the desk; and number of bouts of continuous sitting at the desk < 20 and > 60 minutes, were calculated.Results:Average time spent at work was 8.7 ± 0.8 hours/day with 67% spent sitting at the desk (5.8 ± 1.2 hours/day), and 4% in other workplace settings. On average, employees got up from their desks 3 times/hour (29 ± 13/day). Sitting for more than 60 consecutive minutes occurred infrequently (0.69 ± 0.62 times/day), with most sit to stands (80%; 23 ± 14) occurring before 20 minutes of continual sitting.Conclusion:The findings provide highly detailed insights into desk-based sitting habits, highlighting large proportions of time spent sitting at desks, but with frequent interruptions.

Sit-Stand Desks To Reduce Workplace Sitting Time In Office Workers With Abdominal Obesity: A Randomized Controlled Trial

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (9) ◽  
pp. 710-715 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brittany T. MacEwen ◽  
Travis J. Saunders ◽  
Dany J. MacDonald ◽  
Jamie F. Burr
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Sedentary Behavior ◽  
Abdominal Obesity ◽  
Cardiometabolic Risk ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Work Hours ◽  
Office Workers ◽  
Sitting Time ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Standing Time

Background:Sit-stand desks reduce workplace sitting time among healthy office workers; however, their metabolic and behavioral impact in higher risk populations remains unknown.Methods:25 office workers with abdominal obesity were randomized to an intervention (sit-stand workstation) or control group (seated desk) for 12 weeks. Physical activity, sedentary behavior, and cardiometabolic risk factors were assessed before and after the intervention period in both groups.Results:In comparison with the control group, which did not change, the intervention group experienced significant reductions in workday (344 ± 107 to 186 ± 101 min/day) and total (645 ± 140 to 528 ± 91 min/day) sitting time, as well as increases in workday standing time (154 ± 108 to 301 ± 101 min/day, P < .05). There were no changes in sitting or standing time outside of work hours, steps taken each day, or any marker of cardiometabolic risk in either group (all P > .05).Conclusion:Sit-stand desks were effective in reducing workplace sedentary behavior in an at-risk population, with no change in sedentary behavior or physical activity outside of work hours. However, these changes were not sufficient to improve markers of cardiometabolic risk in this population.

The effect of sit-stand workstations to decrease sedentariness in office work

2016 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 465-465
Author(s):  
Dechristian Barbieri ◽  
Divya Srinivasan ◽  
Svend Erik Mathiassen ◽  
Ana Beatriz Oliveira
Keyword(s):  
Sedentary Behavior ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Feedback System ◽  
Office Workers ◽  
Sitting Time ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Behavior Patterns ◽  
Office Work ◽  
Sedentary Behaviors ◽  
Reminder System

Sedentary behaviors in office workers has become a major public health concern and several initiatives have been proposed to break up sedentary behavior patterns during the performance of computer-intensive office work (Neuhaus et al., 2014; Toomingas et al., 2012). Among such initiatives, the use of sit-stand workstations has been suggested to be one of the most promising by recent reviews (Commissaris et al., 2015). However, there still is only limited scientific evidence showing how effective sit-stand workstations are, in reducing sedentary behaviors and also documentation of their sustainability of use in studies of regular office work (i.e. as the “newness” of the system wears off, with time since introduction). This study aimed to document user behaviors and compare the use of two sit-stand workstation based interventions among two groups of administrative office workers: an “autonomous” group in which these workstations were introduced following some general ergonomic guidelines, and another “feedback-system” group in which the sit-stand tables were furnished with an automatic reminder system: users were prompted to accept, delay or refuse pre-programmed changes in table position, and if they accepted, the system automatically raised the table to a high (i.e. standing) position. This system was programmed for 10 minutes of standing after every accumulated 50 minutes of the table being in a low (i.e. sitting) position. In addition to documenting average use of the two sit-stand workstations, the sustainability of their use over two continuous months since their introduction was also studied. The results averaged over two months of usage of the two interventions showed that the percentage (%) sitting time was 87.4 (84.9-89.2) and 84.0 (83.5-85.4) on average ( P=0.001), and the frequency of switches between sitting and standing was 0.3 (0.2-0.3) per hour and 0.7 (0.6-0.7) per hour ( P=0.001) in the autonomous and feedback-system groups respectively. These usage behaviors were found to be stable over the entire 2 months of use in both groups. Thus, the sit-stand table system integrated with the automatic reminder system led to more reduction in sitting time and more switches in posture between sitting and standing as compared to the traditional sit-stand table, and behaviors of both groups were seen to be sustained over the 2-month intervention period. In conclusion, a semi-automated sit-stand table may thus offer an effective contribution to making sedentary behavior patterns more variable among office workers, and thus aid in preventing negative health effects associated with prolonged sitting times.

How Does Definition of Minimum Break Length Affect Objective Measures of Sitting Outcomes Among Office Workers?

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stine Kloster ◽  
Ida Høgstedt Danquah ◽  
Andreas Holtermann ◽  
Mette Aadahl ◽  
Janne Schurmann Tolstrup
Keyword(s):  
Sedentary Behavior ◽  
Research Field ◽  
Office Workers ◽  
Sitting Time ◽  
Objective Measures ◽  
Standard Definition ◽  
Prolonged Sitting ◽  
Sit To Stand ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Right

Background:Harmful health effects associated with sedentary behavior may be attenuated by breaking up long periods of sitting by standing or walking. However, studies assess interruptions in sitting time differently, making comparisons between studies difficult. It has not previously been described how the definition of minimum break duration affects sitting outcomes. Therefore, the aim was to address how definitions of break length affect total sitting time, number of sit-to-stand transitions, prolonged sitting periods and time accumulated in prolonged sitting periods among office workers.Methods:Data were collected from 317 office workers. Thigh position was assessed with an ActiGraph GT3X+ fixed on the right thigh. Data were exported with varying bout length of breaks. Afterward, sitting outcomes were calculated for the respective break lengths.Results:Absolute numbers of sit-to-stand transitions decreased, and number of prolonged sitting periods and total time accumulated in prolonged sitting periods increased, with increasing minimum break length. Total sitting time was not influenced by varying break length.Conclusions:The definition of minimum break length influenced the sitting outcomes with the exception of total sitting time. A standard definition of break length is needed for comparison and interpretation of studies in the evolving research field of sedentary behavior.

scholarly journals Effectiveness of Text Messaging as an Incentive to Maintain Physical Activity after Cardiac Rehabilitation: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (12) ◽  
pp. 6645
Author(s):  
Giulia Foccardi ◽  
Marco Vecchiato ◽  
Daniel Neunhaeuserer ◽  
Michele Mezzaro ◽  
Giulia Quinto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Cardiac Rehabilitation ◽  
Exercise Testing ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Stand Test ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Sit To Stand ◽  
Significant Difference

Although the efficacy of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is proven, the need to improve patients’ adherence has emerged. There are only a few studies that have investigated the effect of sending text messages after a CR period to stimulate subjects’ ongoing engagement in regular physical activity (PA). A randomized controlled pilot trial was conducted after CR, sending a daily PA text message reminder to an intervention group (IG), which was compared with a usual care control group (CG) during three months of follow-up. Thirty-two subjects were assessed pre- and post-study intervention with GPAQ, submaximal iso-watt exercise testing, a 30 s sit-to-stand test, a bilateral arm curl test, and a final survey on a seven-point Likert scale. A statistically significant difference in the increase of moderate PA time (Δ 244.7 (95% CI 189.1, 300.4) minutes, p < 0.001) and in the reduction of sedentary behavior time (Δ −77.5 (95% CI 104.9, −50.1) minutes, p = 0.004) was shown when the IG was compared with the CG. This was associated with an improvement in heart rate, blood pressure, and patients’ Borg rating on the category ratio scale 10 (CR10) in iso-watt exercise testing (all p < 0.05). Furthermore, only the IG did not show a worsening of the strength parameters in the follow-up leading to a change of the 30 s sit-to-stand test with a difference of +2.2 (95% CI 1.23, 3.17) repetitions compared to CG (p = 0.03). The telemedical intervention has been appreciated by the IG, whose willingness to continue with regular PA emerged to be superior compared to the CG. Text messages are an effective and inexpensive adjuvant after phase 2 CR that improves adherence to regular PA. Further studies are needed to confirm these results in a larger patient population and in the long term.

scholarly journals Self-tracking of/and time: From technological to biographical and political temporalities of work and sitting

2020 ◽  
pp. 146144482098332
Author(s):  
Paula Saukko ◽  
Amie Weedon
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Work Conditions ◽  
Free Time ◽  
Office Workers ◽  
Sitting Time ◽  
User Experiences ◽  
Tracking Devices

Self-tracking devices have been observed to accelerate time, be used sporadically and busyness being a barrier to use at work. Drawing on notion of multiple temporalities, this article expands the focus on temporalities of users’ engagement with technologies to analysing them within broader biographical, institutional and political times. The argument is grounded in interviews with UK public sector office workers self-tracking sitting time that featured the following three themes: (1) the participants related their sitting to deteriorated work conditions after government austerity politics and redundancies, (2) the pressurised rhythm of work made it difficult to reduce sitting time and fostered a sense of discontent and powerlessness and (3) the workers did not self-track in their free time, defined as free from monitoring. We suggest that the analytical lens of multiple temporalities expands understanding of user experiences as well as illuminates lived contemporary political and institutional times, characterised by both discontent and powerlessness.

Sibling Visiting in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 71 (5) ◽  
pp. 835-838
Author(s):  
Fred Schwab ◽  
Brenda Tolbert ◽  
Stephen Bagnato ◽  
M. Jeffrey Maisels
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Direct Observation ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care ◽  
Behavioral Patterns ◽  
Control Intervention ◽  
Significant Difference

The effect of sibling visiting in a neonatal intensive care unit was studied. Sixteen siblings of 13 infants were randomly assigned to a visiting or nonvisiting group. Behavioral patterns were measured by questionnaires administered to the parents and by direct observation and interviews with the children. There were no significant changes in the behavior of the children following the birth of their sibling, and there was no significant difference between the behavior scores of the two groups 1 week after the experimental (or control) intervention. The visiting children did not show signs of fear or anxiety during the visit. These data suggest that sibling visiting to a neonatal intensive care unit is not likely to be harmful and might be beneficial to the siblings and their families.

scholarly journals Association between sex differences on foot health related to the quality of life in a sample of sedentary people

2019 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-155
Author(s):  
Daniel López-López ◽  
Jose María Cancela-Carral ◽  
Romeu Araujo ◽  
Marta Elena Losa-Iglesias ◽  
Ricardo Becerro-de-Bengoa-Vallejo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Metabolic Energy ◽  
Sitting Time ◽  
Foot Health ◽  
Sedentary Population ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Reported Data

SUMMARY Sedentary (sitting) time may produce many anatomical and physiological consequences which are supposedly associated with a decreased quality of life (QoL) related to foot health. Accordingly, this study aimed to analyze the QoL impact on the overall health and the foot health among male and female sedentary people. A total of 312 participants with an age mean of 39.81 ± 15.40 years completed all phases of the study. In addition, self-reported data were registered. The participants' sedentary lifestyle was determined using the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) physical activity questionnaire. Furthermore, the scores obtained from the Portuguese version of the Foot Health Status Questionnaire were registered. Sedentary people in the equivalent metabolic energy had 301.09 ± 72.22 (min/week). In the first section, values were higher for foot pain and foot function and lower for general foot health and footwear. In the second section, values were higher for general health and vigor and lower for physical activity and social capacity. The differences between the sex groups of the study were statistically significant for footwear (P = 0.008), physical activity (P= 0.002), social capacity (P = 0.001) and vigor (P = 0.001) showing a worst QoL related to foot health in favor of male subjects in comparison with females. The rest of the domains did not show any statistically significant difference (P ≥ .01). The sedentary population evidenced a negative impact on the QoL related to foot health. This problem may be associated with this lifestyle, especially for males.

Dietary habits and sedentary behaviors among health science university students in Bahrain

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdulrahman O. Musaiger ◽  
Muyssar S. Awadhalla ◽  
Mariam Al-Mannai ◽  
Muneera AlSawad ◽  
G.V. Asokan
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Dietary Patterns ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
Intervention Program ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Daily Basis ◽  
Health Science ◽  
Sedentary Behaviors ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Significant Difference

Abstract Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the dietary patterns and sedentary behaviors among university students in Bahrain. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out with students of the College of Health Sciences in Bahrain using a self-reported questionnaire. All the students enrolled in this college were included in this study (642 students; 90 males and 552 females). The mean age of the sample was 20.1±2.0 years. A pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect information on the students’ breakfast intake, snacking, food frequency intake, and sedentary habits. Results: More than 50% of the students did not consume breakfast on a daily basis. A statistically significant difference (p<0.003) was found between males (19%) and females (35%) in relation to the intake of an afternoon snack. There were no significant gender differences regarding frequency of food intake, except for carbonated beverages (p<0.001) and nuts (p<0.047) consumption. Females were more likely than males to spend time watching television, use the Internet, use a mobile phone and sleep; however, the only significant difference found was for Internet use (p<0.003). Being physically active on a daily basis was more prevalent among males (41.6%) than females (16%) (p<0.001). Females (42.9%) were more prone to sleep for less time (<7 h) than males (34.4%)(p<0.08). Conclusion: The findings indicated that a high percentage of health science students in Bahrain had unhealthy dietary habits and sedentary behaviors. Thus, an intervention program to promote healthy dietary patterns and lifestyle habits among university students is highly recommended.

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