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Bike Desks in the Office: Physical Health, Cognitive Function, Work Engagement, and Work Performance
Abstract
Objective:
The aim of this study was to examine the longitudinal effect of implementing bike desks in an office setting on physical health, cognition, and work parameters.
Methods:
Physical health, cognitive function, work engagement, and work performance measured before (T0) and after (T2) the intervention period were compared between office workers who used the bike desk (IG, n = 22) and those who did not (CG, n = 16).
Results:
The IG cycled approximately 98 minutes/week. The IG showed a significantly lower fat percentage and a trend toward a higher work engagement at T2 relative to T0, while this was not different for the CG. No effects on other parameters of health, cognition, or work performance were found.
Conclusions:
Providing bike desks in the office positively influences employees' fat percentage and could positively influence work engagement without compromising work performance.
... found in two studies (Karakolis & Callaghan, 2014;Robertson et al., 2013), and a negative in one (Karakolis & Callaghan, 2014), while in three studies (Graves et al., 2015;Healy et al., 2013;Torbeyns et al., 2016) there is no relationship found. The relationship between the furniture intervention and participants' health is measured by changes in anthropometrics (Torbeyns et al., 2016), physiological parameters (e.g. ...
... found in two studies (Karakolis & Callaghan, 2014;Robertson et al., 2013), and a negative in one (Karakolis & Callaghan, 2014), while in three studies (Graves et al., 2015;Healy et al., 2013;Torbeyns et al., 2016) there is no relationship found. The relationship between the furniture intervention and participants' health is measured by changes in anthropometrics (Torbeyns et al., 2016), physiological parameters (e.g. Carr et al., 2016;Healy et al., 2013) or self-reported health (e.g. ...
... Grooten et al., 2017;Roossien et al., 2017). Except for Torbeyns et al. (2016), these studies do not address psychological or social well-being. ...
Health is a trending topic in the office market, yet scientific research on healthy offices is scattered. This study undertakes a systematic literature review on the relationship between the interior space of offices and physical, psychological and social well-being. The review identifies the characteristics of interior office space that have been studied in relation to employee health, and outlines the empirical evidence. Of 2816 papers in the database, 50 addressed the relationship between interior office space and health and did so based on six features: layout, furniture, light, greenery, controls and noise. Evidence on the relationship between interior space and health has accumulated only within a few topics. On the one hand, open-plan offices, shared rooms and higher background noise are negatively related to health. On the other hand, positive relationships are found between physical well-being and aspects that encourage physical activity; between physical/psychological well-being and (day)light, individual control and real/artificial greenery; and between social well-being and small shared rooms. In measuring health, physical well-being is predominant. Similarly, studies have predominantly aimed to prevent health problems rather than enhance health. Overall, the related research is in a nascent stage. Further research is required to verify claims about healthy offices.
... Among several studies that investigated the use of compact elliptical or pedaling devices in real-world offices, employee-administered surveys suggested that it was feasible to work productively while engaged in simultaneous pedaling [13,29,30]. However, these studies lacked input from supervisors about the effects of pedaling devices on employee performance-which is needed to ensure more widespread acceptance and dissemination of these devices. ...
... Previous research indicates that employees can pedal desk pedaling devices without detrimental effects on objectively measured nonpedaling physical activity [30,76] and employee-rated work performance [13,29,30], and that there is interest in using these devices among adults with multiple health risk factors [77]. Our study adds to this early literature by including measures important for guiding wider dissemination of desk pedaling devices, including supervisor ratings of employee work performance, the differential effects of different incentive strategies on pedaling volume, social and built-office environment influences on desk pedaling, and qualitative assessment of user-encountered issues. ...
... Previous research indicates that employees can pedal desk pedaling devices without detrimental effects on objectively measured nonpedaling physical activity [30,76] and employee-rated work performance [13,29,30], and that there is interest in using these devices among adults with multiple health risk factors [77]. Our study adds to this early literature by including measures important for guiding wider dissemination of desk pedaling devices, including supervisor ratings of employee work performance, the differential effects of different incentive strategies on pedaling volume, social and built-office environment influences on desk pedaling, and qualitative assessment of user-encountered issues. ...
Background:
Workplaces that provide opportunities for physical activity without requiring extra time for activity could help counteract the obesity epidemic. Desk ellipticals can contribute to activity-supportive workplace environments; however, the feasibility of engaging employees in pedaling ellipticals during simultaneous office work has not been well evaluated.
Objective:
We aim to present the rationale and methods from an ongoing randomized trial with overweight and obese employees that will evaluate (1) the effects of pedaling a compact desk elliptical on work performance and (2) the influence of different incentive types and schedules on desk pedaling quantity.
Methods:
Overweight and obese medical center employees are being recruited in dyads for a 2 (gift card type: healthier food vs Amazon) by 3 (gift card schedule: immediate incentive contingent on individual pedaling quantity; immediate incentive partially contingent on dyads' joint pedaling quantity; and delayed noncontingent pedaling incentive) cluster randomized within-subjects factorial trial. All participants receive a Bluetooth-enabled desk elliptical for 4 weeks and access to a mobile app that provides real-time pedaling feedback. The primary aims are to assess (1) change in employee work performance from pre- to postelliptical installation via employee and supervisor ratings and (2) effects of gift card type and schedule on quantity of objectively measured desk pedaling completed.
Results:
Data collection is ongoing. We expect to complete main outcome analyses in 2020.
Conclusions:
This trial represents one of the earliest attempts to assess the effects of desk pedaling and pedaling-incentive types in real-world offices. It could help bridge the research-to-practice gap by providing evidence on whether desk pedaling can be sustained without compromising work performance.
International registered report identifier (irrid):
DERR1-10.2196/16275.
... Both behavioral and environmental interventions to reduce sedentary time have received a substantial amount of research attention over the past 10 years. Examples of behavioral components of interventions to reduce sedentary behavior include text-based messages [9,10], telephone calls [11], email reminders [12], and providing feedback to the amount of time spent sedentary and active [13,14]. Examples of environmental changes are the use of a standing desk, dynamic sitting chair (i.e. ...
... sit in a more active way: chairs without back support, unstable chairs, exercise balls, etc.), and other environmental workplace designs that promote less sedentary behavior [15]. Dynamic sitting chairs, such as the stability ball desk [16], sit-stand workstations [17], active treadmill workstations [18], cycling workstations [14] and active elliptical workstations [19] have been shown to improve body composition (e.g., fat percentage) [14] and cardiometabolic profiles (e.g., total cholesterol) [17] as well as increase energy expenditure [16,18,19]. Butler, et al. investigated the effects of standing in the college classroom on cardiometabolic risk factors [20]. ...
... sit in a more active way: chairs without back support, unstable chairs, exercise balls, etc.), and other environmental workplace designs that promote less sedentary behavior [15]. Dynamic sitting chairs, such as the stability ball desk [16], sit-stand workstations [17], active treadmill workstations [18], cycling workstations [14] and active elliptical workstations [19] have been shown to improve body composition (e.g., fat percentage) [14] and cardiometabolic profiles (e.g., total cholesterol) [17] as well as increase energy expenditure [16,18,19]. Butler, et al. investigated the effects of standing in the college classroom on cardiometabolic risk factors [20]. ...
... Scientific evaluations of those portable DOWs in the field are rare. Those available show a high degree of individual variation in the use of the devices regarding the days used (from 3.6% to 70% of the intervention period, time pedalled per active day (9 to 97 min on average per active day) and bouts of use within one event of use (2-19 bouts a 4-16 min) [32][33][34][35][36]. ...
... Although the implementation of DOWs as occupational health promotion measures is gaining more attention, there is very little research in the area of systematically evaluating well-being as an outcome of using DOWs. Of the few existing studies on the subject, well-being has been operationalized in very different ways, with studies assessing feelings of stress [37][38][39], activation/deactivation (e.g., arousal, tiredness) [39,40] or motivation [35]. ...
... Furthermore, motivation-oriented feelings have been examined. Torbeyns et al. [35] assessed, among other things, the concept of work engagement before and after using cycling ergometers in the office for 20 weeks. Their results reported a trend in the intervention group towards an increase in work engagement after the intervention period. ...
The present field study evaluates the use of dynamic workstations (cycling devices) in a real-life office environment. Specific characteristics of use were recorded and possible relationships with short-term changes in well-being were investigated. For a period of 12 weeks, 36 employees were given free access to eight devices. Frequency, duration and speed of use were self-determined but registered objectively for every event of use. Immediately before and after using a cycling device, employees rated their well-being with a modified version of the EZ-scale from Nitsch to assess changes in the short-term. In total, 817 events of use were registered. On each day of the intervention period one of the devices was used. Participants used the devices between one day to all days present at the office, for 21.09 (SD 0.58) to 31.58 (SD 2.19) minutes on average per event of use per day. Comparing the pre- and post-measurements, a significant increase in well-being after using a cycling device was found. Results of a Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) analysis showed mixed effects for the duration of use, the speed and variation of speed on the probability of reporting positive changes in recovery, calmness and mood. Therefore, using cycling devices in the office might improve short-term well-being.
... Given these advantages, their scientific evaluation should be emphasized. Only few studies have investigated the effects of portable dynamic workstations on time spent sedentary or physically active at work, pedaling time and feasibility of the machines in a real-life office environment (Carr et al., 2012(Carr et al., , 20132016;Torbeyns et al., 2016). The participants of one study by Carr et al. (2012) pedaled an average of 12 out of a possible 20 working days on under-desk machines and used them an average of 23 min per active day. ...
... The participants of another study by Carr et al. (2016) used the pedal machine for an average of 50 min per active day on 70% of all working days over 16 weeks. Finally, Torbeyns et al. (2016) collected data regarding the duration and intensity of using bike desks along with anthropometric data and cognitive and work factors. Their results showed, amongst other things, an average cycle time of 98 min per week over the 20 week intervention period. ...
... ± 40.5 min). The result of Torbeyns et al. (2016) showed an average pedaling time of 98.1 ( ± 55.3) min per week. Calculated with the use on an average of 2.5 days per week from the present study this would equal a theoretical 39.2 ( ± 22.1) min of use per active day. ...
Objective:
The aim of this study was to investigate the use of two types of dynamic workstations (Deskbike, activeLife Trainer) and their effects on physiological activation in an occupational setting.
Methods:
30 employees were given access to the devices for 28 days. Frequency and duration of borrowing and use was recorded by a Chipcard-system. Physiological activation (energy expenditure, heart rate) while working in a seated position and using the workstations was measured with the activity tracker Fitbit Charge HR.
Results:
Participants used dynamic workstations on 40% of their working days for an average of 54.3 ± 23.9 min per day. Energy expenditure and heart rate increased significantly while using the workstations compared to working seated. The Deskbike was used more frequently and resulted in greater heart rate elevation.
Conclusion:
Both types of dynamic workstations were used by the employees and had positive effects on physiological activation. The implementation of either type can be recommended.
... She found that allowance for personalization and the actual display of objects indeed were related to better well-being, mediated by satisfaction with the physical work environment and job satisfaction. Others addressed conflicts or satisfaction with team relations in studies on the effects of office type (Bodin Danielsson et al., 2015;Brennan et al., 2002) or furniture use (Torbeyns et al., 2016), finding that open-plan offices were negatively associated with quality of relationships at work. ...
... The studies within this design strategy all targeted the employees' sedentary behavior or amount of walking in the office. Among furniture offered to decrease sitting time (Barbieri et al., 2017;Carr et al., 2016;Graves et al., 2015;Healy et al., 2013;Torbeyns et al., 2016), sitstand desks generally reduced sitting and increased standing time (while they were less effective in reducing discomfort, as explained before). Having more sedentary breaks was related to greater local connectivity (available routes) and co-worker proximity and visibility (Duncan et al., 2015;Wilkerson et al., 2018). ...
Purpose
It is widely recognized that interior office space can affect health in several ways. Strategic and evidence-based design, including explicit design objectives, well-chosen design solutions and evaluation of results, aid realization of desired health effects. Therefore, this paper aims to identify possibly effective interior design strategies and accompanying design solutions and to provide examples of effectiveness measures.
Design/methodology/approach
A literature sample of 59 peer-reviewed papers published across disciplines was used to collect examples of workplace design features that have positively influenced workers’ well-being. The papers were grouped by their health objective and design scope successively and their theoretical assumptions, measures and findings were analyzed.
Findings
Four main workplace design strategies were identified. Design for comfort aims at reducing or preventing health complaints, discomfort and stress, following a pathogenic approach. It has the longest tradition and is the most frequently addressed in the included papers. The other three take a salutogenic approach, promoting health by increasing resources for coping with demands through positive design. Design for restoration supports physical and mental recovery through connections with nature. Design for social well-being facilitates social cohesion and feelings of belonging. Design for healthy behavior aims at nudging physical activity in the workplace.
Originality/value
By drawing complementary perspectives and offering examples of design solutions and effectiveness measures, this paper encourages workplace designers, managers and researchers to take a transdisciplinary and evidence-based approach to healthy workplaces. It also serves as a starting point for future empirical research.
... Interestingly, it has been observed that one 10-min single bout of very light-intensity exercise in healthy young adults can enhance memory function and functional connectivity of the hippocampus and cortex (Suwabe et al., 2018), although this has only been studied in a laboratory setting. However, another non-randomized study observed no effects on cognitive function from installing bike desks at offices for 5 months (Torbeyns et al., 2016). Likewise, while exchanging sedentary time for moderate-to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) improved executive function in healthy older adults, exchanging sedentary time to LPA did not show any significant effects (Fanning et al., 2017). ...
... To our knowledge, this is the first RCT investigating long-term effects of increased walking time at offices on cognitive function, PFC thickness, hippocampal volume, and BDNF levels. We found no effects on cognitive function or brain structure by installing treadmill workstations in offices in this RCT, in line with results of a previous non-randomized shorter study using bike desks, where no effects on short-term memory, selective attention, response inhibition or sustained attention were observed (Torbeyns et al., 2016). Notably, changes in walking time and in LPA between baseline and 13 months were positively associated with changes in hippocampal volume. ...
Objectives: To investigate the long-term effects on cognition and brain function after installing treadmill workstations in offices for 13 months. Methods: Eighty healthy overweight or obese office workers aged 40–67 years were individually randomized to an intervention group, receiving a treadmill workstation and encouraging emails, or to a control group, continuing to work as usual. Effects on cognitive function, hippocampal volume, prefrontal cortex (PFC) thickness, and circulating brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were analyzed. Further, mediation analyses between changes in walking time and light-intensity physical activity (LPA) on changes in BDNF and hippocampal volume between baseline and 13 months, and multivariate analyses of the baseline data with percentage sitting time as the response variable, were performed. Results: No group by time interactions were observed for any of the outcomes. In the mediation analyses, positive associations between changes in walking time and LPA on changes in hippocampal volume were observed, although not mediated by changes in BDNF levels. In the multivariate analyses, a negative association between percentage sitting time and hippocampal volume was observed, however only among those older than 51 years of age. Conclusion: Although no group by time interactions were observed, our analyses suggest that increased walking and LPA may have positive effects on hippocampal volume and that sedentary behavior is associated with brain structures of importance for memory functions. Trial Registration: www.ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT01997970.
... Au-delà de la pression artérielle, des études de la littérature mettent en avant l'augmentation de troubles cardiovasculaires, tel que des insuffisances veineuses dans les membres inférieurs, à travers un temps prolongé en position debout, indépendamment du sexe ou de la composition corporelle (Łastowiecka-Moras, 2021; Tüchsen et al., 2005). Par ailleurs, les résultats de la littérature présentent une grande diversité concernant les effets des bureaux actifs dynamiques sur la pression artérielle, avec une absence de modification ou des adaptations potentielles sur la pression artérielle systolique et diastolique (Bouchard et al., 2016;Champion et al., 2018;Chia et al., 2015;Cox et al., 2011;Torbeyns et al., 2016b;Zeigler et al., 2016). De récentes méta-analyses de la littérature ont observé que les évidences actuelles ne permettaient pas de mettre en avant des adaptations significatives de la pression artérielle à travers l'utilisation des tapis-bureaux et des bureaux-pédaliers (Oye-Somefun et al., 2021;Podrekar et al., 2020). ...
Les transformations sociétales menées par les diverses révolutions techniques et technologiques ont entraîné une réduction inéluctable du temps consacré aux activités physiques au profit des comportements sédentaires. Symbole de ces nouvelles caractéristiques comportementales, le domaine professionnel, de surcroît le secteur tertiaire, a émergé comme le milieu représentant ces nouveaux comportements du mouvement au sein de la population et des stratégies ont émergé pour lutter contre cette évolution délétère. L’objectif de ce travail de thèse était de questionner l’intérêt de l’utilisation de pédalier de bureau afin d’améliorer la santé globale d’individus travaillant dans le secteur tertiaire. Dans ce contexte, ce travail doctoral a permis le développement d’un protocole expérimental implémentant un pédalier de bureau auprès de salariés ayant un travail assis. Sa mise en place a permis d’observer les effets de l’utilisation de cette stratégie active pour améliorer différents paramètres cardiométaboliques et les comportements du mouvement humain auprès de cette population. De plus, une exploration de deux profils énergétiques lors de l’utilisation d’un pédalier de bureau a permis de caractériser des paramètres métaboliques spécifiques liés à ces profils. Nos résultats ont clairement mis en avant les bénéfices sur la santé globale de travailleurs liés à la pratique de pédalier de bureau durant le temps professionnel. Nos travaux ouvrent ainsi de nouvelles perspectives dans la compréhension liée à l’implémentation et à l’utilisation de pédalier de bureau dans le milieu professionnel.
... 18 Furthermore, cycling exercises during office work improved work engagement in adults. 19 Cycle ergometers are an easy-to-use device to reduce sedentary time in everyday situations and public places, for example in airports. 20 Previous research found out that using cycle ergometers in classrooms significantly increased energy expenditure and aerobic physical fitness. ...
... It thus seems logical to assume that regular PA participation can also benefit work-related parameters in a roundabout way, via increasing employees' physical health (Sui, Smith, Fagan, Rollo, & Prapavessis, 2019). In support of this agreement, two recent studies have shown that installing bike desks in the office for a 5-month period positively influences employees' work engagement, attention, and motivation, by improving employees' physical health indicators (Torbeyns, de Geus, Bailey, Decroix, & Meeusen, 2017;Torbeyns et al., 2016). In addition, literature reviews and longitudinal studies have found consistent associations between physical health, lower levels of work absenteeism (e.g. ...
Grounded in self-determination theory, this study examines the effects of a leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) intervention with work colleagues on work-related outcomes of relatedness satisfaction, engagement factors, satisfaction, and burnout subtypes. Fifty-seven teachers (Mage = 46.81 ± 7.90), from two secondary schools randomized as an experimental (n = 22) or control (n = 35) group, participated in the study. Thirty-two sessions based on playful, strength, aerobic, and back pain prevention activities were performed two days per week throughout one academic year. The experimental group teachers reported significant improvements in relatedness satisfaction, vigor, absorption, and satisfaction at work compared to the control group teachers and their own baseline scores. Results highlight that two weekly sessions of LTPA with work colleagues can lead to positive work-related outcomes among teachers.
... Studies have evaluated varying cognitive functions using varying testing protocols and thus comparison between studies is difficult. Torbeyns et al. (2016a) conducted an office workplace study and found no difference in memory and attention. Commissaris et al. (2014) also found there were no significant differences in perceptual performance, attention and executive memory between cycling and just-sitting. ...
Alternate work positions are being considered as a way to address sedentary behaviour for office workers. This study evaluated the effect of two hours of just-sitting versus sitting while under-desk cycling on musculoskeletal discomfort and cognitive function (sustained attention and creative problem solving). To consider mechanisms, muscle fatigue, kinematics and mental state were also measured. Discomfort increased significantly across all body areas with knee and ankle discomfort greater (in a clinically meaningful manner) in under-desk cycling. Sustained attention reaction time was the only cognitive measure to show a difference between conditions (slower for under-desk cycling [β-34.82 CI (-62.12 to -7.53)]). There was no evidence of muscle fatigue, while kinematic differences between conditions were identified. Mental state deteriorated over time in both conditions. This study found no clear benefit of under-desk cycling compared to just-sitting for musculoskeletal health and cognitive function measures.
... For example, active workstations provided the opportunity to perform low-intensity exercise or to stand while working or studying, which led to reduced sedentary time [15,16]. Furthermore, it consistently demonstrated that active workstations improved anthropometric indicators (e.g., body weight [17,18] and waist circumstances [19]), cardiovascular metabolic risk indicators (e.g., cholesterol [19], high-density lipoprotein [20], and postprandial blood glucose [21]). ...
Background:
This study aimed to investigate the effects of self-paced cycling at an active workstation on executive functions and cortical activity.
Methods:
In a crossover study design, 37 young adults (45.9% females) were randomly assigned to the following two task conditions: (1) performing cognitive tests during sitting, (2) performing cognitive tests while cycling at an active workstation. Executive functions were assessed by the Stroop color and word test and the task-switching paradigm. Cortical activity was monitored using a multi-channel functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) system.
Results:
The behavioral results showed that there were no significant differences on the Stroop interference effects (P = 0.66) between the sitting and the cycling conditions. In all probability, no differences on the global switch costs (P = 0.90) and local switch costs (P = 0.67) were observed between the sitting and the cycling conditions. For the fNIRS results, the oxygenated hemoglobin (oxy-Hb) in response to the Stroop interference in channels 5, 10, and 12 were decreased during the cycling condition (all Ps < 0.05, FDR-corrected). Conversely, the oxy-Hb associated with the global switch costs in channels 3, 29, and 31 were increased during the cycling condition (all Ps < 0.05, FDR-corrected).
Conclusions:
The findings indicated that behavioral performances on executive functions were not affected by cycling at an active workstation, while cognitive resources were reallocated during cycling at an active workstation.
... Mean values ± SD for height, body weight, BMI, fat percentage, waist circumference and VO 2 peak at baseline are displayed in Table 2. Mean VO 2 peak was 34.0 ± 8.5 ml/kg/min for the male and 26.9 ± 3.7 ml/kg/min for the female participants, which for both sexes corresponds to P20 according to the ACSMs guidelines for exercise testing and prescription. 25 Data about changes in health-related parameters, including anthropometrics and aerobic fitness, can be found in the paper 'Bike desks in the office: physical health, cognitive function, work engagement and work performance' by Torbeyns et al. 26 Participants had a significantly longer cycle time during P1 than during P3 (P ¼ 0.002), P4 (P ¼ 0.02) and P5 (P ¼ 0.001). Cycled distance was significantly higher during P1 than during P2 (P ¼ 0.041), P3 (P ¼ 0.001), P4 (P ¼ 0.006) and P5 (P ¼ 0.001). ...
Objectives:
To investigate the use of bike desks in an office setting and office workers' experiences of bike desks.
Study design:
Mixed-method study; quantitative data of cycling desk use in combination with qualitative data of users' experience were obtained via questionnaires.
Methods:
Bike desks were provided in an office setting during a five-month period. The amount of cycled time, distance and the cycling intensity were registered. At the end of the intervention period, participants filled out a questionnaire about their experiences of cycling desks in the office.
Results:
Participants cycled for approximately 98 min/week. Most participants were very positive about their bike desk experience and almost all of them would continue using them. About one third of the participants experienced a positive effect on attention and work performance and for about two thirds it positively influenced their motivation during work. Furthermore, about half of the participants felt more energetic, more self-confident and perceived a positive effect on their health and lifestyle.
Conclusions:
Providing bike desks in an office reduces office workers sedentary time. Furthermore, people experienced positive effects on several personal and work-related parameters. Therefore, providing bike desks in office settings seems to be a promising means to reduce sedentary time.
Background:
Time constraints comprise one limiting factor for implementing school-based physical activity programs. The aim of this pilot cluster randomized controlled study was to explore the effects of a cycle ergometer intervention during regular lessons on physical fitness, body composition, and health-related blood parameters.
Methods:
Participants attended one of 2 classes selected from one school, which were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 23, 11.2 [0.5] y) consisting of cycling on classroom-based ergometers during 3 lessons per week at a self-selected intensity and a control group (n = 21, 11.3 [0.5] y) not receiving any treatment. Prior to and after the 5-month intervention period, physical fitness (with ventilatory threshold as primary outcome), body composition, and parameters of glucose and lipid metabolism were assessed.
Results:
A significant time × group interaction was revealed for ventilatory threshold (P = .035), respiratory compensation point (P = .038), gross efficiency (P < .001), maximal aerobic power (P = .024), triglycerides (P = .041), and blood glucose levels (P = .041) with benefits for the intervention group. Peak oxygen uptake and body composition were not affected.
Conclusions:
Children's aerobic capacity benefited from the low-intensity school-based cycling intervention, while body composition and most blood parameters were not affected. The intervention using cycle ergometers is a feasible and time-saving strategy to elevate submaximal physical fitness.
This study examines the possible effects on objective work performance while using two types of dynamic office workstations (DOWs). 20 participants each used one type with three intensities (seated, light, moderate) and completed a task battery assessing cognitive performance and office work with two levels of complexity. Repeated measures MANOVA showed a significant interaction effect for work performance between the type of workstation and intensity for the simple level and a significant main effect for intensity for the complex level. Comparing the types of DOWs to each other, accuracy of text processing differed when working sedentary. Using both devices with light and moderate intensity had a significant detrimental effect on mouse tasks compared to working sedentary, but none comparing the intensities. No further results indicated neither a detrimental nor an enhancing effect of using DOWs on cognitive performance and office-work related tasks, regardless of the intensity of use or the task complexity.
Practitioner Summary: By using DOWs, light physical activity can be integrated while working at a desk. Results showed that using different types of DOWs with different intensities does have a detrimental effect on tasks requiring a high motor control, but not on cognitive or further office work-related tasks of various complexity.
Abbreviations: DOW: dynamic office workstation; aLT: activeLife Trainer; DB: deskbike; RPE: rated perceived exertion; MANOVA: multivariate analysis of variance; ANOVA: analysis of variance
Background:
Sedentary behavior has been recognized as an important risk factor in the development of several chronic diseases. Active workstations have been proposed as an effective countermeasure. While such interventions likely reduce sedentary time, concerns regarding the effects on work performance and cognitive function remain.
Objective:
To use meta-analyis to critically evaluate the work performance and cognitive function effects of cycle and treadmill desks as workplace interventions against sedentary behavior.
Methods:
In February 2018, a data search was conducted. Parallel and crossover design studies evaluating workplace interventions compared to conventional seated conditions were included.
Results:
Eighteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Both interventions reduced typing speed (cycling: SMD = -0.35, p = 0.04; treadmill: SMD = -0.8, p < 0.001). The number of typing errors significantly increased during cycling interventions (SMD = 0.39, p = 0.004). No effect was found for the selective attention tests. However, there was an improvement in recall ability (SMD = 0.68, p = 0.003).
Conclusion:
Cycle and treadmill desks affect work performance, but most likely not due to a decrease in cognitive function. Further research is needed to determine whether the degree of work performance decline is acceptable, considering the many positive effects of implementing active workstations in the office environment.
Purpose: The aim of this paper was to evaluate the effects of cycle and treadmill desks on energy expenditure, cardiovascular and biochemical indicators in sedentary workers.
Materials and methods: In February 2018, six databases were searched. Both parallel and crossover design studies evaluating workplace cycle and treadmill desks compared to a conventional seated condition were included.
Results: Twenty-two studies met the inclusion criteria. Cycle and treadmill desks significantly increased energy expenditure (SMD = 3.84, p < 0.001, I² = 95%) and heart rate (SMD = 1.68, p < 0.001, I² = 91%), as well as lowered blood glucose and insulin levels (SMD = –0.54, p < 0.001, I² = 0%; SMD = –3.13, p < 0.001, I² = 76%, respectively). The interventions had no effect on blood pressure and other biochemical indicators.
Conclusion: Cycle and treadmill desks may positively influence energy expenditure in sedentary workers and could be effective for reducing negative effects of workplace-related sedentary behaviour. However, considerable heterogeneity in the energy expenditure measuring protocols is present.
Sports performance depends on physical factors, but also on cognitive functioning. Nutritional supplements as potential ergogenic aids can impact muscle, but also the brain. Cocoa flavanols (CF) have antioxidant capacities, can stimulate vascular function, and potentially enhance cognitive function. CF intake might thus improve exercise performance and recovery by reducing oxidative stress, increasing NO availability and/or boosting cognitive function. It is the purpose of this PhD to identify the effects of CF on physical and cognitive performance in healthy athletes at sea level and altitude, as well as in patients with type 1 diabetes. Our systematic review showed that CF can reduce exercise-induced oxidative stress, but without improving exercise performance. Combining CF intake and exercise training improves cardiovascular risk factors and vascular function in healthy and overweight participants, but evidence on the synergistic effects of CF and exercise training on oxidative stress, inflammation and fat and glucose metabolism is lacking.In a randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind cross-over study, we showed that 900 mg CF intake increased prefrontal oxygenation in athletes, but without affecting executive function. BDNF was not affected by CF intake. The effects of high-intensity exercise largely overruled the effects of CF intake: large beneficial effects of exercise on prefrontal oxygenation and cognitive function were observed and CF supplementation did not enlarge these effects. In a 2nd study, the effect of acute CF intake (530 mg CF) on performance on a demanding cognitive test was assessed in normoxia and hypoxia (simulated altitude 4000 m). Electroencephalogram and fNIRS were used to analyse neuronal activity and hemodynamic changes. Acute CF intake improved the neurovascular response, but did not affect neuronal activity and cognitive performance in normoxia and hypoxia. Most cognitive functions, the cerebrovascular response and neuronal activity, were not altered in hypoxia in healthy subjects. In a 3rd study, we found that acute intake of 900 mg CF enhanced cognitive performance on the Flanker test in patients with type 1 diabetes, and their healthy matched controls. CF intake increased the BOLD response in brain areas activated during this specific task. While cognitive performance was not deteriorated in patients with type 1 diabetes, a different brain activation pattern during the cognitive task was observed, compared to healthy controls and this brain activation pattern was altered by CF intake. To conclude, acute CF intake improves prefrontal oxygenation and cerebrovascular responsiveness. This can be associated with better cognitive function in patients with type 1 diabetes, but does not result in improved executive function in healthy persons. Compared to exercise, the magnitude of the CF-induced neurovascular changes is small.Two studies were conducted examining the effects of CF on exercise-induced oxidative stress, NO availability and its implications for exercise performance, in well-trained cyclists. We found that acute CF (900 mg) improved the exercise-induced increase in total antioxidant capacity, but did not reduce the exercise-induced increase in lipid peroxidation. One week CF intake (530 mg CF) improved vascular function at rest, and prefrontal oxygenation at rest and during low-intensity exercise, but did not influence muscular oxygenation. One week CF intake partially restored the hypoxia-induced decline in prefrontal oxygenation during rest and low-intensity exercise, but not during high-intensity exercise. One week CF intake reduced exercise-induced lipid peroxidation, but did not alter total antioxidant capacity. Both acute and 1-week CF intake did not improve exercise performance and recovery and do not change NO production during exercise (in normoxia and hypoxia) in well-trained athletes.
Background:
A large number of people are employed in sedentary occupations. Physical inactivity and excessive sitting at workplaces have been linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity, and all-cause mortality.
Objectives:
To evaluate the effectiveness of workplace interventions to reduce sitting at work compared to no intervention or alternative interventions.
Search methods:
We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, OSH UPDATE, PsycINFO, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the World Health Organization (WHO) International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) search portal up to 9 August 2017. We also screened reference lists of articles and contacted authors to find more studies.
Selection criteria:
We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs), cross-over RCTs, cluster-randomised controlled trials (cluster-RCTs), and quasi-RCTs of interventions to reduce sitting at work. For changes of workplace arrangements, we also included controlled before-and-after studies. The primary outcome was time spent sitting at work per day, either self-reported or measured using devices such as an accelerometer-inclinometer and duration and number of sitting bouts lasting 30 minutes or more. We considered energy expenditure, total time spent sitting (including sitting at and outside work), time spent standing at work, work productivity and adverse events as secondary outcomes.
Data collection and analysis:
Two review authors independently screened titles, abstracts and full-text articles for study eligibility. Two review authors independently extracted data and assessed risk of bias. We contacted authors for additional data where required.
Main results:
We found 34 studies - including two cross-over RCTs, 17 RCTs, seven cluster-RCTs, and eight controlled before-and-after studies - with a total of 3,397 participants, all from high-income countries. The studies evaluated physical workplace changes (16 studies), workplace policy changes (four studies), information and counselling (11 studies), and multi-component interventions (four studies). One study included both physical workplace changes and information and counselling components. We did not find any studies that specifically investigated the effects of standing meetings or walking meetings on sitting time.Physical workplace changesInterventions using sit-stand desks, either alone or in combination with information and counselling, reduced sitting time at work on average by 100 minutes per workday at short-term follow-up (up to three months) compared to sit-desks (95% confidence interval (CI) -116 to -84, 10 studies, low-quality evidence). The pooled effect of two studies showed sit-stand desks reduced sitting time at medium-term follow-up (3 to 12 months) by an average of 57 minutes per day (95% CI -99 to -15) compared to sit-desks. Total sitting time (including sitting at and outside work) also decreased with sit-stand desks compared to sit-desks (mean difference (MD) -82 minutes/day, 95% CI -124 to -39, two studies) as did the duration of sitting bouts lasting 30 minutes or more (MD -53 minutes/day, 95% CI -79 to -26, two studies, very low-quality evidence).We found no significant difference between the effects of standing desks and sit-stand desks on reducing sitting at work. Active workstations, such as treadmill desks or cycling desks, had unclear or inconsistent effects on sitting time.Workplace policy changesWe found no significant effects for implementing walking strategies on workplace sitting time at short-term (MD -15 minutes per day, 95% CI -50 to 19, low-quality evidence, one study) and medium-term (MD -17 minutes/day, 95% CI -61 to 28, one study) follow-up. Short breaks (one to two minutes every half hour) reduced time spent sitting at work on average by 40 minutes per day (95% CI -66 to -15, one study, low-quality evidence) compared to long breaks (two 15-minute breaks per workday) at short-term follow-up.Information and counsellingProviding information, feedback, counselling, or all of these resulted in no significant change in time spent sitting at work at short-term follow-up (MD -19 minutes per day, 95% CI -57 to 19, two studies, low-quality evidence). However, the reduction was significant at medium-term follow-up (MD -28 minutes per day, 95% CI -51 to -5, two studies, low-quality evidence).Computer prompts combined with information resulted in no significant change in sitting time at work at short-term follow-up (MD -14 minutes per day, 95% CI -39 to 10, three studies, low-quality evidence), but at medium-term follow-up they produced a significant reduction (MD -55 minutes per day, 95% CI -96 to -14, one study). Furthermore, computer prompting resulted in a significant decrease in the average number (MD -1.1, 95% CI -1.9 to -0.3, one study) and duration (MD -74 minutes per day, 95% CI -124 to -24, one study) of sitting bouts lasting 30 minutes or more.Computer prompts with instruction to stand reduced sitting at work on average by 14 minutes per day (95% CI 10 to 19, one study) more than computer prompts with instruction to walk at least 100 steps at short-term follow-up.We found no significant reduction in workplace sitting time at medium-term follow-up following mindfulness training (MD -23 minutes per day, 95% CI -63 to 17, one study, low-quality evidence). Similarly a single study reported no change in sitting time at work following provision of highly personalised or contextualised information and less personalised or contextualised information. One study found no significant effects of activity trackers on sitting time at work.Multi-component interventions Combining multiple interventions had significant but heterogeneous effects on sitting time at work (573 participants, three studies, very low-quality evidence) and on time spent in prolonged sitting bouts (two studies, very low-quality evidence) at short-term follow-up.
Authors' conclusions:
At present there is low-quality evidence that the use of sit-stand desks reduce workplace sitting at short-term and medium-term follow-ups. However, there is no evidence on their effects on sitting over longer follow-up periods. Effects of other types of interventions, including workplace policy changes, provision of information and counselling, and multi-component interventions, are mostly inconsistent. The quality of evidence is low to very low for most interventions, mainly because of limitations in study protocols and small sample sizes. There is a need for larger cluster-RCTs with longer-term follow-ups to determine the effectiveness of different types of interventions to reduce sitting time at work.
This review examined the impact of environmental, behavioral, and combined interventions to reduce occupational sedentary behaviour on work performance and productivity outcomes. Productivity outcomes were defined as variables assessing work-related tasks (e.g., typing, mouse), whereas performance outcomes were categorized as any variables assessing cognition that did not mimic work-related tasks. Nine databases were searched for articles published up to January 2018. Sixty-three studies were identified that met the inclusion criteria: 45 examined a productivity outcome (i.e., typing, mouse, work-related tasks, and absenteeism), 38 examined a performance outcome (i.e., memory, reading comprehension, mathematics, executive function, creativity, psychomotor function, and psychobiological factors), and 30 examined a self-reported productivity/ performance outcome (i.e., presenteeism or other self-reported outcome). Overall, standing interventions do not appear to impact productivity/performance outcomes, whereas walking and cycling interventions demonstrate mixed null/negative associations for productivity outcomes. Hence, standing interventions to reduce occupational sedentary behaviour could be implemented without negatively impacting productivity/performance outcomes.
Background
A large number of people are employed in sedentary occupations. Physical inactivity and excessive sitting at workplaces have been linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity, and all-cause mortality.
Objectives
To evaluate the effectiveness of workplace interventions to reduce sitting at work compared to no intervention or alternative interventions.
Search methods
We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, OSH UPDATE, PsycINFO, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the World Health Organization (WHO) International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) search portal up to 9 August 2017. We also screened reference lists of articles and contacted authors to find more studies.
Selection criteria
We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs), cross-over RCTs, cluster-randomised controlled trials (cluster-RCTs), and quasi-RCTs of interventions to reduce sitting at work. For changes of workplace arrangements, we also included controlled before-and-after studies. The primary outcome was time spent sitting at work per day, either self-reported or measured using devices such as an accelerometer-inclinometer and duration and number of sitting bouts lasting 30 minutes or more. We considered energy expenditure, total time spent sitting (including sitting at and outside work), time spent standing at work, work productivity and adverse events as secondary outcomes.
Data collection and analysis
Two review authors independently screened titles, abstracts and full-text articles for study eligibility. Two review authors independently extracted data and assessed risk of bias. We contacted authors for additional data where required.
Main results
We found 34 studies — including two cross-over RCTs, 17 RCTs, seven cluster-RCTs, and eight controlled before-and-after studies — with a total of 3,397 participants, all from high-income countries. The studies evaluated physical workplace changes (16 studies), workplace policy changes (four studies), information and counselling (11 studies), and multi-component interventions (four studies). One study included both physical workplace changes and information and counselling components. We did not find any studies that specifically investigated the effects of standing meetings or walking meetings on sitting time.
Physical workplace changes
Interventions using sit-stand desks, either alone or in combination with information and counselling, reduced sitting time at work on average by 100 minutes per workday at short-term follow-up (up to three months) compared to sit-desks (95% confidence interval (CI) −116 to −84, 10 studies, low-quality evidence). The pooled effect of two studies showed sit-stand desks reduced sitting time at medium-term follow-up (3 to 12 months) by an average of 57 minutes per day (95% CI −99 to −15) compared to sit-desks. Total sitting time (including sitting at and outside work) also decreased with sit-stand desks compared to sit-desks (mean difference (MD) −82 minutes/day, 95% CI −124 to −39, two studies) as did the duration of sitting bouts lasting 30 minutes or more (MD −53 minutes/day, 95% CI −79 to −26, two studies, very low-quality evidence).
We found no significant difference between the effects of standing desks and sit-stand desks on reducing sitting at work. Active workstations, such as treadmill desks or cycling desks, had unclear or inconsistent effects on sitting time.
Workplace policy changes
We found no significant effects for implementing walking strategies on workplace sitting time at short-term (MD −15 minutes per day, 95% CI −50 to 19, low-quality evidence, one study) and medium-term (MD −17 minutes/day, 95% CI −61 to 28, one study) follow-up. Short breaks (one to two minutes every half hour) reduced time spent sitting at work on average by 40 minutes per day (95% CI −66 to −15, one study, low-quality evidence) compared to long breaks (two 15-minute breaks per workday) at short-term follow-up.
Information and counselling
Providing information, feedback, counselling, or all of these resulted in no significant change in time spent sitting at work at short-term follow-up (MD −19 minutes per day, 95% CI −57 to 19, two studies, low-quality evidence). However, the reduction was significant at medium-term follow-up (MD −28 minutes per day, 95% CI −51 to −5, two studies, low-quality evidence).
Computer prompts combined with information resulted in no significant change in sitting time at work at short-term follow-up (MD −10 minutes per day, 95% CI −45 to 24, two studies, low-quality evidence), but at medium-term follow-up they produced a significant reduction (MD −55 minutes per day, 95% CI −96 to −14, one study). Furthermore, computer prompting resulted in a significant decrease in the average number (MD −1.1, 95% CI −1.9 to −0.3, one study) and duration (MD -74 minutes per day, 95% CI −124 to −24, one study) of sitting bouts lasting 30 minutes or more.
Computer prompts with instruction to stand reduced sitting at work on average by 14 minutes per day (95% CI 10 to 19, one study) more than computer prompts with instruction to walk at least 100 steps at short-term follow-up.
We found no significant reduction in workplace sitting time at medium-term follow-up following mindfulness training (MD −23 minutes per day, 95% CI −63 to 17, one study, low-quality evidence). Similarly a single study reported no change in sitting time at work following provision of highly personalised or contextualised information and less personalised or contextualised information. One study found no significant effects of activity trackers on sitting time at work.
Multi-component interventions
Combining multiple interventions had significant but heterogeneous effects on sitting time at work (573 participants, three studies, very low-quality evidence) and on time spent in prolonged sitting bouts (two studies, very low-quality evidence) at short-term follow-up.
Authors' conclusions
At present there is low-quality evidence that the use of sit-stand desks reduce workplace sitting at short-term and medium-term follow-ups. However, there is no evidence on their effects on sitting over longer follow-up periods. Effects of other types of interventions, including workplace policy changes, provision of information and counselling, and multi-component interventions, are mostly inconsistent. The quality of evidence is low to very low for most interventions, mainly because of limitations in study protocols and small sample sizes. There is a need for larger cluster-RCTs with longer-term follow-ups to determine the effectiveness of different types of interventions to reduce sitting time at work.
Children spend over 60% of their school day sitting; much of this occurs in the classroom. Emerging research has examined the impact of environmental interventions on classroom sitting. While this research is promising, it has predominantly focused on the primary school setting. This study examined the impact and feasibility of height-adjustable desks on time spent sitting/standing during classroom lessons in a secondary school. Traditional desks in a Melbourne secondary school classroom were replaced with 27 height-adjustable desks (intervention classroom). Forty-three adolescents (51% male; mean age 13.7 ± 1.4 years) from Grades 7, 9 and 10 wore an inclinometer and accelerometer for schooldays and completed a survey after using the desks during lessons for seven weeks. Ten teachers (50% male) completed a survey. Time spent sitting, standing, and the length of sitting bouts were compared between periods when adolescents were in the intervention classroom versus traditional classrooms (matched on teacher and subject). Compared to the traditional classroom, adolescents spent 25% less time sitting and 24% more time standing in the intervention classroom (effect size > 0.8), and had a greater frequency of short sitting bouts and fewer longer bouts. The majority of teachers (71%) and students (70%) reported wanting to continue to use the height-adjustable desks. When standing during lessons, adolescents reported working well (69%); however, a third reported difficulties paying attention (28%) and becoming distracted (36%). Few teachers reported negative influences on adolescents’ ability to work (14%) and concentrate (14%). Half the adolescents reported leg, or back pain with standing. Introducing height-adjustable desks resulted in lower levels of sitting compared with traditional classrooms, was acceptable and had some adverse effects on concentration and discomfort. The study provides preliminary evidence that height-adjustable desks may help reduce prolonged sitting in school among adolescents. Future research should incorporate a control group and explore behavioural and academic outcomes.
Objective:
This study investigated work engagement as a baseline predictor of onset of major depressive episode (MDE).
Methods:
The study used a prospective cohort design, conforming to the STROBE checklist. Participants were recruited from the employee population of a private think tank company (N = 4,270), and 1,058 (24.8%) of them completed a baseline survey, of whom 929 were included in this study. Work engagement and psychological distress at baseline were assessed as predictor variables. MDE was measured at baseline and at each of the follow-ups as the outcome, using the web-based, self-administered version of the Japanese WHO-CIDI 3.0 depression section based upon DSM-IV-TR/DSM-5 criteria. Cox discrete-time hazards analyses were conducted to estimate hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals CIs).
Results:
Follow-up rates of participants (N = 929) were 78.4%, 67.2%, and 51.6% at 1-, 2-, and 3-year follow-ups, respectively. The association between work engagement at baseline and the onset of MDE was U-shaped. Compared with a group with low work engagement scores, groups with the middle and high scores showed significantly (HR = 0.19, 95% CI = 0.05 to 0.64; p = 0.007) and marginally significantly (HR = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.20 to 1.15, p = 0.099) lower risks of MDE, respectively, over the follow-ups, after adjusting for covariates. The pattern remained the same after additionally adjusting for psychological distress.
Conclusions:
The present study first demonstrated work engagement as an important predictor of the onset of MDE diagnosed according to an internationally standard diagnostic criteria of mental disorders.
Standing desks have proven to be effective and viable solutions to combat sedentary behavior among children during the school day in studies around the world. However, little is known regarding the potential of such interventions on cognitive outcomes in children over time. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine the neurocognitive benefits, i.e., improvements in executive functioning and working memory, of stand-biased desks and explore any associated changes in frontal brain function. 34 freshman high school students were recruited for neurocognitive testing at two time points during the school year: (1) in the fall semester and (2) in the spring semester (after 27.57 (1.63) weeks of continued exposure). Executive function and working memory was evaluated using a computerized neurocognitive test battery, and brain activation patterns of the prefrontal cortex were obtained using functional near infrared spectroscopy. Continued utilization of the stand-biased desks was associated with significant improvements in executive function and working memory capabilities. Changes in corresponding brain activation patterns were also observed. These findings provide the first preliminary evidence on the neurocognitive benefits of standing desks, which to date have focused largely on energy expenditure. Findings obtained here can drive future research with larger samples and multiple schools, with comparison groups that may in turn implicate the importance of stand-biased desks, as simple environmental changes in classrooms, on enhancing children’s cognitive functioning that drive their cognitive development and impact educational outcomes.
This review provides the reader with the up-to-date evidence-based basis for prescribing exercise as medicine in the treatment of 26 different diseases: psychiatric diseases (depression, anxiety, stress, schizophrenia); neurological diseases (dementia, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis); metabolic diseases (obesity, hyperlipidemia, metabolic syndrome, polycystic ovarian syndrome, type 2 diabetes, type 1 diabetes); cardiovascular diseases (hypertension, coronary heart disease, heart failure, cerebral apoplexy, and claudication intermittent); pulmonary diseases (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, cystic fibrosis); musculo-skeletal disorders (osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, back pain, rheumatoid arthritis); and cancer. The effect of exercise therapy on disease pathogenesis and symptoms are given and the possible mechanisms of action are discussed. We have interpreted the scientific literature and for each disease, we provide the reader with our best advice regarding the optimal type and dose for prescription of exercise.
Calculating the costs of work-related stress and psychosocial risks
Literature review
Whilst there is growing evidence suggesting that, in general, work-related stress comes with significant financial costs, data showing the actual nature of the financial burden of work-related stress and psychosocial hazards for employers and societies remains limited. The purpose of this project was to conduct a literature review on the financial burden of work-related stress and psychosocial risk at work at societal, sectoral, organisational and individual levels. Although the review looked at the methodologies employed to calculate the costs, it does not provide a deeper economic analysis.1 The aim was to collect the available data, and to explore and discuss the complexity of the issue, identifying the existing gaps. The information included in the report is based on data published in the scientific and grey literature. The sources used included: - academic literaature (i.e. searching academic databases and conference presentations) - grey literature (i.e. Google/Google Scholar)- information from reputable organisations (e.g. the International Labour Organization (ILO), World Health Organization (WHO), national OSH institutions,/labour inspections, etc.)
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Corporate author(s): EU-OSHA — European Agency for Safety and Health at Work Private author(s): Juliet Hassard, Kevin Teoh, Tom Cox see more Themes: Workers' health and safety Target audience: Specialised/Technical Key words: mental stress, occupational health, occupational psychology, working conditions, workplace, health costs, cost analysis
A reduction in sedentary behaviour (e.g. the length of time spent sitting) may prevent or reverse childhood obesity. The effectiveness of a ‘dynamic classroom’ environment in increasing standing and reducing sitting time in children was determined. A controlled trial with 26 (n = 18 intervention) New Zealand children (aged 9.8 ± 0.4 years; mean ± SD) was conducted. The intervention class received height-appropriate workstations for 22 weeks while the control class retained traditional desks and chairs. Children's sitting and standing were measured at three time points (baseline, week 5, week 9). Pain, inattention and hyperactivity were also assessed. At week 22, qualitative data were collected via a focus group and an interview and analyzed using the thematic framework. Mean differences were interpreted using standardized magnitude thresholds. On weekdays (during waking hours) there was on average a large increase in overall standing, 55 minutes per day over nine weeks of intervention compared with the control classroom. Children's overall sitting time reduced, but the changes were small. There were no substantial differences between the control and intervention classrooms in pain and inattention-hyperactivity mean scores. Children enjoyed working at the height-appropriate standing workstations. Teachers were supportive of the dynamic classroom environment. Height-appropriate standing workstations can be successfully integrated into classrooms to increase overall standing and decrease sitting time.
This research examined the influence of sit-to-stand desks on classroom sitting time in primary school children.
Pilot controlled trials with similar intervention strategies were conducted in primary schools in Melbourne, Australia, and Bradford, UK. Sit-to-stand desks replaced all standard desks in the Australian intervention classroom. Six sit-to-stand desks replaced a bank of standard desks in the UK intervention classroom. Children were exposed to the sit-to-stand desks for 9-10 weeks. Control classrooms retained their normal seated desks. Classroom sitting time was measured at baseline and follow-up using the activPAL3 inclinometer.
Thirty UK and 44 Australian children provided valid activPAL data at baseline and follow-up. The proportion of time spent sitting in class decreased significantly at follow-up in both intervention groups (UK: -9.8 ± 16.5% [-52.4 ± 66.6 min/day]; Australian: -9.4 ± 10% [-43.7 ± 29.9 min/day]). No significant changes in classroom sitting time were observed in the UK control group, while a significant reduction was observed in the Australian control group (-5.9 ± 11.7% [-28.2 ± 28.3 min/day]).
Irrespective of implementation, incorporating sit-to-stand desks into classrooms appears to be an effective way of reducing classroom sitting in this diverse sample of children. Longer term efficacy trials are needed to determine effects on children's health and learning.
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An increasing trend in the workplace is for employees to walk on treadmills while working to attain known health benefits; however, the effect of walking on a treadmill during cognitive control and executive function tasks is not well known. We compared the cognitive control processes of conflict adaptation (i.e., congruency sequence effects—improved performance following high-conflict relative to low-conflict trials), post-error slowing (i.e., Rabbitt effect), and response inhibition during treadmill walking (1.5 mph) relative to sitting. Understanding the influence of treadmill desks on these cognitive processes may have implications for worker health and productivity. Sixty-nine individuals were randomized to either a sitting (n = 35) or treadmill-walking condition (n = 34). Groups did not differ in age or body mass index. All participants completed a computerized Eriksen flanker task and a response-inhibition go/no-go task in random order while either walking on a treadmill or seated. Response times (RTs) and accuracy were analyzed separately for each task using mixed model analysis of variance. Separate ANOVAs for RTs and accuracy showed the expected conflict adaptation effects, post-error slowing, and response inhibition effects when collapsed across sitting and treadmill groups (all Fs > 78.77, Ps .38), suggesting no decrements or enhancements in conflict-related control and adjustment processes or response inhibition for those walking on a treadmill versus sitting. We conclude that cognitive control performance remains relatively unaffected during slow treadmill walking relative to sitting.
Some local governments have implemented strategies to increase physical activity as a way to control obesity in children, but in Iranian students few studies have evaluated the effects of such interventions on overweight and obese children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a short-term school-based physical activity on obesity and cardiovascular fitness in 12-14-year-old boy students.
This study showed an intervention effect on some health-related fitness factors in students. A number of 127 boy students aged 12-14 years, in the city of Isfahan, based on preventive plan of inactivity in children at the provincial Health office selected randomly as subjects. Measurement variables include; weight, height, body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR), body-fat percent and aerobic power of subjects measured by valid tests.
This study revealed that body-fat percentage of this students changed near to 17.84% (42.25% pretest vs. 34.71% posttest), WHR 0.44%, (0.915 pretest vs. 0.911 posttest), VO2 max changed 8.54% (27.84 pretest vs. 30.22 posttest) whereas BMI was changed 2.61% (26.81 pretest vs. 26.03 posttest). Results also revealed that there were significant differences between fat percent, (P = 0.001) and VO2 max (P = 0.001), but there was no difference between BMI of subjects in pre and posttests (P = 0.452).
Findings of this study signify that an implementation of short-term intervention components in the school system may have a beneficial effect on body-fat percentage and cardiovascular fitness of overweight/obese children.
In the past two decades, physical activity has decreased during both childhood and adolescence, and particularly adolescence. It seems that schools are attractive settings in which to implement interventions designed in order to promote physical activity in children; but in Iranian students, few studies have evaluated the effects of such interventions on overweight and obese children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a short-term school-based physical activity on obesity and aerobic fitness in 12-14 years aged girls.
This is a study with single group pretest and posttest design, in which 129 middle school girls in city of Isfahan were assessed based on preventive plan of inactivity in children at the Provincial Health Office. Variables, including weight, height, body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR), body fat percentage and aerobic power of subjects were measured using valid tests.
This study showed that subjects' body fat percentage changed about 3.6% (37.74% pretest vs. 36.39% posttest), VO2 max changed 7.43% (29.72 pretest vs. 31.93 posttest), WHR changed 1.12% (0.89 pretest vs. 0.88 posttest), whereas BMI was changed 1.65% (27.80 pretest vs. 27.34 posttest). Findings also revealed that there were significant differences between fat percent, (P = 0.001) and VO2 max (P = 0.001) of subjects, but there was no difference between BMI of them in pre- and post-tests (P = 0.361).
These results suggest that even a short-term exercise intervention may lead to positive changes in body fat percentage, WHR and aerobic fitness of overweight children. Therefore, school-based physical activity interventions can be an effective preventive strategy to control obesity and overweight in students.
Purpose:
This study compared cognitive (attention, learning, and memory) and typing outcomes during slow treadmill walking or sitting. Seventy-five healthy individuals were randomly assigned to a treadmill walking group (n=37; 23 female) or sitting group (n=38; 17 female).
Methods:
The treadmill walking group completed a series of tests while walking at 1.5 mph. The sitting group performed the same tests while sitting at a standard desk. Tests performed by both groups included: the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test and a modified version of the Paced Auditory Serial Attention Test. In addition, typing performance was evaluated.
Results:
Participants in the treadmill walking group performed worse on the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test for total learning than the sitting group; the main effect was significant (F(1,73)=4.75, p=0.03, ηp2=0.06); however, short- and long-delay recall performance did not differ between groups (p>0.05). For the Paced Auditory Serial Attention Test, total number of correct responses was lower in the treadmill walking group relative to the sitting group; the main effect was significant (F(1,73)=4.97, p=0.03, ηp2=0.06). The performance of both groups followed the same learning slope (Group x Trial interactions were not significant) for the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test and Paced Auditory Serial Attention Test. Individuals in the treadmill walking group performed significantly worse for all measures of typing (p<0.05).
Conclusion:
Walking on a treadmill desk may result in a modest difference in total learning and typing outcomes relative to sitting, but those declines may not outweigh the benefit of the physical activity gains from walking on a treadmill.
Background
This study was designed to validate the Dutch Physical Activity Questionnaires for Children (PAQ-C) and Adolescents (PAQ-A).
Methods
After adjustment of the original Canadian PAQ-C and PAQ-A (i.e. translation/backtranslation and evaluation by expert committee), content validity of both PAQs was assessed and calculated using item-level (I-CVI) and scale-level (S-CVI) content validity indexes. Inter-item and inter-rater reliability of 196 PAQ-C and 95 PAQ-A filled in by both children or adolescents and their parent, were evaluated. Inter-item reliability was calculated by
Cronbach’s alpha(α) and inter-rater reliability was examined by percent observed agreement and weighted kappa(κ). Concurrent validity of PAQ-A was examined in a subsample of 28 obese and 16 normal-weight children by comparing it with concurrently measured physical activity using a maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test for the assessment of peak oxygen uptake (VO2 peak).
Results
For both PAQs, I-CVI ranged 0.67-1.00. S-CVI was 0.89 for PAQ-C and 0.90 for PAQ-A. A total of 192 PAQ-C and 94 PAQ-A were fully completed by both child and parent. Cronbach’s α was 0.777 for PAQ-C and 0.758 for PAQ-A. Percent agreement ranged 59.9-74.0% for PAQ-C and 51.1-77.7% for PAQ-A, and weighted κ ranged 0.48-0.69 for PAQ-C and 0.51-0.68 for PAQ-A. The correlation between total PAQ-A score and VO2 peak – corrected for age, gender, height and weight – was 0.516 (p = 0.001).
Conclusions
Both PAQs have an excellent content validity, an acceptable inter-item reliability and a moderate to good strength of inter-rater agreement. In addition, total PAQ-A score showed a moderate positive correlation with VO2 peak. Both PAQs have an acceptable to good reliability and validity, however, further validity testing is recommended to provide a more complete assessment of both PAQs.
Objective:
To assess the effect of a physical activity (PA) intervention on brain and behavioral indices of executive control in preadolescent children.
Methods:
Two hundred twenty-one children (7-9 years) were randomly assigned to a 9-month afterschool PA program or a wait-list control. In addition to changes in fitness (maximal oxygen consumption), electrical activity in the brain (P3-ERP) and behavioral measures (accuracy, reaction time) of executive control were collected by using tasks that modulated attentional inhibition and cognitive flexibility.
Results:
Fitness improved more among intervention participants from pretest to posttest compared with the wait-list control (1.3 mL/kg per minute, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.3 to 2.4; d = 0.34 for group difference in pre-to-post change score). Intervention participants exhibited greater improvements from pretest to posttest in inhibition (3.2%, 95% CI: 0.0 to 6.5; d = 0.27) and cognitive flexibility (4.8%, 95% CI: 1.1 to 8.4; d = 0.35 for group difference in pre-to-post change score) compared with control. Only the intervention group increased attentional resources from pretest to posttest during tasks requiring increased inhibition (1.4 µV, 95% CI: 0.3 to 2.6; d = 0.34) and cognitive flexibility (1.5 µV, 95% CI: 0.6 to 2.5; d = 0.43). Finally, improvements in brain function on the inhibition task (r = 0.22) and performance on the flexibility task correlated with intervention attendance (r = 0.24).
Conclusions:
The intervention enhanced cognitive performance and brain function during tasks requiring greater executive control. These findings demonstrate a causal effect of a PA program on executive control, and provide support for PA for improving childhood cognition and brain health.
Due to the increasing prevalence of childhood obesity, the association between classroom furniture and energy expenditure as well as physical activity was examined using a standing-desk intervention in three central-Texas elementary schools. Of the 480 students in the 24 classrooms randomly assigned to either a seated or stand-biased desk equipped classroom, 374 agreed to participate in a week-long data collection during the fall and spring semesters. Each participant's data was collected using Sensewear® armbands and was comprised of measures of energy expenditure (EE) and step count. A hierarchical linear mixed effects model showed that children in seated desk classrooms had significantly lower (EE) and fewer steps during the standardized lecture time than children in stand-biased classrooms after adjusting for grade, race, and gender. The use of a standing desk showed a significant higher mean energy expenditure by 0.16 kcal/min (p < 0.0001) in the fall semester, and a higher EE by 0.08 kcal/min (p = 0.0092) in the spring semester.
Sedentary work entails health risks. Dynamic (or active) workstations, at which computer tasks can be combined with physical activity, may reduce the risks of sedentary behaviour. The aim of this study was to evaluate short term task performance while working on three dynamic workstations: a treadmill, an elliptical trainer, a bicycle ergometer and a conventional standing workstation. A standard sitting workstation served as control condition. Fifteen Dutch adults performed five standardised but common office tasks in an office-like laboratory setting. Both objective and perceived work performance were measured. With the exception of high precision mouse tasks, short term work performance was not affected by working on a dynamic or a standing workstation. The participant's perception of decreased performance might complicate the acceptance of dynamic workstations, although most participants indicate that they would use a dynamic workstation if available at the workplace.
Introduction
Previous research has identified modifiable risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD) in older adults. Research is limited on the potential link between these risk factors and subjective memory impairment (SMI), which may precede AD and other dementias. Examination of these potential relationships may help identify those at risk for AD at a stage when interventions may delay or prevent further memory problems. The objective of this study was to determine whether risk factors for AD are associated with SMI among different age groups.
Method
Trained interviewers conducted daily telephone surveys (Gallup-Healthways) of a representative community sample of 18,614 U.S. respondents, including 4,425 younger (age 18 to 39 years), 6,365 middle-aged (40 to 59 years), and 7,824 older (60 to 99 years) adults. The surveyors collected data on demographics, lifestyles, and medical information. Less education, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, less exercise, obesity and depression, and interactions among them, were examined for associations with SMI. Weighted logistic regressions and chi-square tests were used to calculate odds ratios and confidence intervals for SMI with each risk factor and pairwise interactions across age groups.
Results
Depression, less education, less exercise, and hypertension were significantly associated with SMI in all three age groups. Several interactions between risk factors were significant in younger and middle-aged adults and influenced their associations with SMI. Frequency of SMI increased with age and number of risk factors. Odds of having SMI increased significantly with just having one risk factor.
Conclusions
These results indicate that modifiable risk factors for AD are also associated with SMI, suggesting that these relationships occur in a broad range of ages and may be targeted to mitigate further memory problems. Whether modifying these risk factors reduces SMI and the eventual incidence of AD and other dementias later in life remains to be determined.
Background:
The impact of active workstations has been studied in several settings, and several outcomes have been investigated. However, the effects on health, work performance, quality of life, etc., have never been systematically reviewed.
Objective:
To evaluate the existing literature about active workstations and their possible positive health and work performance effects.
Data sources:
We searched the electronic databases PubMed and Web of Science (up until 28 February 2014). The search terms we used were 'active workstation', 'standing workstation', 'standing desk', 'stand up workstation', 'stand up desk', 'walking desk', 'walking workstation', 'treadmill workstation', 'treadmill desk', 'cycling workstation', 'cycling desk' and 'bike desk', in combination with 'health', 'quality of life', 'cognition', 'computer task performance', 'absenteeism', 'productivity', 'academic achievement', 'cognitive decline', and 'independent living'. In addition, we searched the reference lists of relevant published articles.
Study selection:
Randomized controlled trials, non-randomized controlled trials and non-randomized non-controlled trials investigating the introduction of active workstations in humans were included in this systematic review. Only original studies were included, and we did not accept studies combining the introduction of active workstations with other interventions. Outcomes concerning health, energy expenditure, cognition, quality of life and work performance were included.
Results:
We included 32 studies, of which five were longitudinal studies in school-aged children, 10 were longitudinal studies in adults and 17 were non-longitudinal studies in adults. Sixteen studies investigated standing desks, 15 investigated walking desks, and one investigated a cycling workstation. The general findings were decreased sitting time, increased energy expenditure, a positive effect on several health markers, no detrimental effect on work performance, no acute effect on cognitive function and no straightforward findings concerning computer task performance.
Conclusion:
The implementation of active workstations might contribute to improving people's health and physical activity levels. The effect of the use of these active workstations on cognition and applied work tasks, such as computer task performance, needs further investigation before conclusions can be drawn. Another aspect that needs further investigation is the implementation of the different active workstations in all age groups.
We conducted a 12-month-long experiment in a financial services company to study how the availability of treadmill workstations affects employees' physical activity and work performance. We enlisted sedentary volunteers, half of whom received treadmill workstations during the first two months of the study and the rest in the seventh month of the study. Participants could operate the treadmills at speeds of 0-2 mph and could use a standard chair-desk arrangement at will. (a) Weekly online performance surveys were administered to participants and their supervisors, as well as to all other sedentary employees and their supervisors. Using within-person statistical analyses, we find that overall work performance, quality and quantity of performance, and interactions with coworkers improved as a result of adoption of treadmill workstations. (b) Participants were outfitted with accelerometers at the start of the study. We find that daily total physical activity increased as a result of the adoption of treadmill workstations.
Studies of relationships between physical activity and children's attention skills are often constrained by small samples, lack of objective measurements and lack of control for confounders. The present study explores the relationship using objective measures of physical activity from a large birth cohort which permits both longitudinal and cross-sectional analyses. Data from 4755 participants (45% male) with valid measurement of physical activity (total volume and intensity) by accelerometry at age 11 from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (UK) were analysed. Attention was evaluated by the Test of Everyday Attention for Children (TEA-Ch) at 11 years and by the Cognitive Drug Research (CDR) computerised cognitive assessment system at 13 years. Males engaged in an average of 29 min (SD 17) of daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) at age 11 years compared with 18 min (SD 12) among females. In unadjusted models, higher total volume of physical activity was associated with lower performance across attention tasks. When total volume of physical activity and potential confounding variables were controlled for, higher MVPA was associated with better performance at both 11 and 13 years. Correction for regression dilution approximately doubled the standardised β coefficients. We observed complex associations but results suggest that MVPA may be beneficial for attention processes in adolescence, especially in males. This has implications for interventions aimed at improving executive attention but may also be supportive of the benefits of physical activity for educational and mental health outcomes.
Aims:
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) originates during childhood and adolescence. Schools are potentially effective settings for early public health prevention strategies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of six physical education (PE) lessons on children's CVD risk.
Methods:
This longitudinal study in 10 public schools (1218 children, aged 6-13 years), 6 intervention and 4 control schools evaluates a natural experiment, where intervention schools tripled PE to six lessons per week compared to the mandatory two PE lessons in the control schools. Baseline (2008) and 2-year follow-up measures were anthropometrics, cardiorespiratory fitness, blood pressure and blood samples providing lipids and measures for insulin resistance. Based on these variables, a composite risk score was calculated and used for further analysis. Multivariate multilevel mixed effect regression models were used to estimate effect of intervention taking the hierarchical structure of data into account. Individual, class and school were considered random effects. Intra class correlation (ICC) was calculated.
Results:
Intervention significantly lowered mean of composite risk score with 0.17 SD (95% CI: -0.34 to -0.01). Six PE lessons per week had a beneficial effect on triglycerides (TG) levels (-0.18 SD, 95% CI: -0.36 to 0.00), systolic blood pressure (SBP) (-0.22 SD, 95% CI: -0.42 to -0.02) and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (-0.17 SD, 95% CI: -0.34 to 0.01).
Conclusions:
Six PE lessons at school can reduce children's CVD risk measured as a composite risk score. The changes in risk score are considered substantial in the perspective of public health strategy for preventing CVD in later life.
Prolonged sitting has been shown to increase mortality and obesity.
We sought to determine whether physicians would use a treadmill desk, increase their daily physical activity and lose weight.PARTICIPANTS: 20 overweight and obese physicians aged 25 to 70 with Body Mass Index > 25.
Participants used a treadmill desk, a triaxial accelerometer, and received exercise counseling in a randomized, cross-over trial over 24 weeks. Group 1 received exercise counseling, accelerometer feedback, and a treadmill desk for 12 weeks and then accelerometer only for 12 weeks. Group 2 received an accelerometer without feedback for 12 weeks followed by exercise counseling, accelerometer feedback, and the treadmill desk for 12 weeks.
Daily physical activity increased while using the treadmill desk compared to not using the desk by 197 kcal per day (p=0.003). The difference in weight during the two 12 week periods was 1.85 kg (p=0.03). Percent body fat was 1.9% lower while using the treadmill desk (p=0.02). There were no differences in metabolic or well-being measures.
This study suggests that physicians will use a treadmill desk, that it does increase their activity, and that it may help with weight loss. Further studies are warranted.
Background. In this pilot study, the authors aimed to examine the implementation of standing desks on classroom performance and behavior. They also examined how the standing desks affected in-class physical activity and body mass index. Methods. Eight sixth graders from Hope Lutheran elementary school participated in the study (age 11.3 ± 0.5 years). Baseline and 8-month postintervention measures were step counts using (W4L Classic pedometers), height, weight, and behavioral markers. Results. Data showed that there were no statistically significant changes in the participants’ body mass index (19.4 kg/m2 vs 19.3 kg/m2), step counts (1886 steps vs 2248 steps), and behavioral markers including classroom management, concentration, and discomfort. Height and weight changes were significant and are attributed to the normal growth rate associated with the age of the participants (146.8 cm vs 151.8 cm, P < .0001; 41.4 kg vs 44.5 kg, P > .0007). Conclusions. It is feasible to integrate standing desks into a classroom without negative effects. Although the authors observed over a 19% increase in pedometer activity, it was not statistically significant. This highlights the importance for larger experimental groups and the use of more advanced physical activity tracking and body composition technologies.
There is growing interest in the role of sedentary behavior as a risk factor for poor health, independent of physical activity (PA). To guide the spectrum of descriptive, analytic, and intervention studies on sedentary behavior, the authors advocate a behavioral epidemiology framework. This 5-phase framework is useful because it outlines a series of sequential stages important for developing, evaluating, and diffusing interventions to reduce sedentary behavior and improve population health. Studies of sedentary behavior and health outcomes (phase I) have found consistent evidence that excessive use of screen-based media is linked to overweight and obesity in children, and there is some evidence among adults that overall sedentary time is associated with risk factors for cardiometabolic disease, some cancers, and mortality. Biological mechanisms to explain possible relationships have started to emerge but are mostly based on animal models. Obtaining valid and reliable measurements of sedentary behavior (phase II) remains a research priority because self-reports are prone to recall bias, and it appears that sedentary habits do not appear to be well represented by measures of individual behaviors such as TV viewing. Studies have identified few modifiable correlates of sedentary behavior (phase III), although research appears to be limited to studies of TV viewing or to scenarios in which sedentary behavior is defined as an absence of PA. Rigorous intervention research (phase IV) has focused almost exclusively on reducing self-reported TV viewing among children and adolescents, and there is consistent evidence that these interventions are efficacious. There appear to be no interventions focused exclusively on reducing sedentary behavior of adults. Translation studies (phase V) are absent because the underlying evidence is still emerging. Future research should focus on examining causal associations between sedentary behavior and health, developing objective measures of domain-specific sitting time, and identifying modifiable correlates of sedentary behavior that can be used as leverage points for behavioral interventions.
As an introduction to the articles of Opdenakker, Van Damme, De Fraine, Van Landeghem, and Onghena (2002) and Van Landeghem, Van Damme, Opdenakker, De Fraine, and Onghena (2002) in this issue, we give some background information on a new study on educational effectiveness in secondary schools, and on the variables measured in that study that are relevant to the 2 articles mentioned. We conclude with some information on the system of secondary education in Flanders.
Background:
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of walking at self-selected speed on an active workstation on cognitive performance.
Methods:
Sixty-six participants (n = 27 males, 39 females; mean age = 21.06 ± 1.6 years) completed a treadmill-desk walking and a seated control condition, separated by 48 hours. During each condition, participants completed computerized versions of the Stroop test, a modified flanker task, and a test of reading comprehension.
Results:
No significant differences in response speed or accuracy were found between walking and sitting conditions for any the cognitive tests.
Conclusions:
These findings reveal that performance on cognitive tasks, including executive control processes, are not impaired by walking on an active workstation. Implementing active workstations into offices and classrooms may help to decrease sedentariness without impairing task performance.
This study used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine the influence of a 9-month physical activity program on task-evoked brain activation during childhood. The results demonstrated that 8- to 9-year-old children who participated in 60+ min of physical activity, 5 days per week, for 9 months, showed decreases in fMRI brain activation in the right anterior prefrontal cortex coupled with within-group improvements in performance on a task of attentional and interference control. Children assigned to a wait-list control group did not show changes in brain function. Furthermore, at post-test, children in the physical activity group showed similar anterior frontal brain patterns and incongruent accuracy rates to a group of college-aged young adults. Children in the wait-list control group still differed from the young adults in terms of anterior prefrontal activation and performance at post-test. There were no significant changes in fMRI activation in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) for either group. These results suggest that physical activity during childhood may enhance specific elements of prefrontal cortex function involved in cognitive control.
Objective: Sedentariness is associated with weight gain and obesity. A treadmill desk is the combination of a standing desk and a treadmill that allow employees to work while walking at low speed.
Design and Methods: The hypothesis was that a 1-year intervention with treadmill desks is associated with an increase in employee daily physical activity (summation of all activity per minute) and a decrease in daily sedentary time (zero activity). Employees (n = 36; 25 women, 11 men) with sedentary jobs (87 ± 27 kg, BMI 29 ± 7 kg/m2, n = 10 Lean BMI < 25 kg/m2, n = 15 Overweight 25 < BMI < 30 kg/m2, n = 11 Obese BMI > 30 kg/m2) volunteered to have their traditional desk replaced with a treadmill desk to promote physical activity for 1 year.
Results: Daily physical activity (using accelerometers), work performance, body composition, and blood variables were measured at Baseline and 6 and 12 months after the treadmill desk intervention. Subjects who used the treadmill desk increased daily physical activity from baseline 3,353 ± 1,802 activity units (AU)/day to, at 6 months, 4,460 ± 2,376 AU/day (P < 0.001), and at 12 months, 4,205 ± 2,238 AU/day (P < 0.001). Access to the treadmill desks was associated with significant decreases in daily sedentary time (zero activity) from at baseline 1,020 ± 75 min/day to, at 6 months, 929 ± 84 min/day (P < 0.001), and at 12 months, 978 ± 95 min/day (P < 0.001). For the whole group, weight loss averaged 1.4 ± 3.3 kg (P < 0.05). Weight loss for obese subjects was 2.3 ± 3.5 kg (P < 0.03). Access to the treadmill desks was associated with increased daily physical activity compared to traditional chair-based desks; their deployment was not associated with altered performance. For the 36 participants, fat mass did not change significantly, however, those who lost weight (n = 22) lost 3.4 ± 5.4 kg (P < 0.001) of fat mass. Weight loss was greatest in people with obesity.
Conclusions: Access to treadmill desks may improve the health of office workers without affecting work performance.
Chinese translation
Primary prevention of Alzheimer disease and other types of dementia (all-cause dementia) is an important public health goal. Evidence to date is insufficient to recommend any lifestyle change to prevent or delay the onset of dementia.
To assess the association between objectively measured midlife cardiorespiratory fitness ("fitness") levels and development of all-cause dementia in advanced age.
Prospective, observational cohort study.
Preventive medicine clinic.
19 458 community-dwelling, nonelderly adults who had a baseline fitness examination.
Fitness levels, assessed using the modified Balke treadmill protocol between 1971 and 2009, and incident all-cause dementia using Medicare Parts A and B claims data from 1999 to 2009.
1659 cases of incident all-cause dementia occurred during 125 700 person-years of Medicare follow-up (median follow-up, 25 years [interquartile range, 19 to 30 years]). After multivariable adjustment, participants in the highest quintile of fitness level had lower hazard of all-cause dementia than those in the lowest quintile (hazard ratio, 0.64 [95% CI, 0.54 to 0.77]). Higher fitness levels were associated with lower hazard of all-cause dementia with previous stroke (hazard ratio, 0.74 [CI, 0.53 to 1.04]) or without previous stroke (hazard ratio, 0.74 [CI, 0.61 to 0.90]).
Dementia diagnoses were based on Medicare claims, and participants generally were non-Hispanic white, healthy, and well-educated and had access to preventive health care. This study evaluated fitness levels, so a specific exercise prescription cannot be generated from results and the findings may not be causal.
Higher midlife fitness levels seem to be associated with lower hazards of developing all-cause dementia later in life. The magnitude and direction of the association were similar with or without previous stroke, suggesting that higher fitness levels earlier in life may lower risk for dementia later in life, independent of cerebrovascular disease.
The Cooper Institute; University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; and American Heart Association.
This study investigated the distinctiveness between workaholism and work engagement by examining their longitudinal relationships (measurement interval=7 months) with well-being and performance in a sample of 1,967 Japanese employees from various occupations. Based on a previous cross-sectional study (Shimazu & Schaufeli, 2009), we expected that workaholism predicts future unwell-being (i.e., high ill-health and low life satisfaction) and poor job performance, whereas work engagement predicts future well-being (i.e., low ill-health and high life satisfaction) and superior job performance. T1-T2 changes in ill-health, life satisfaction and job performance were measured as residual scores that were then included in the structural equation model. Results showed that workaholism and work engagement were weakly and positively related to each other. In addition, workaholism was related to an increase in ill-health and to a decrease in life satisfaction. In contrast, work engagement was related to a decrease in ill-health and to increases in both life satisfaction and job performance. These findings suggest that workaholism and work engagement are two different kinds of concepts that are oppositely related to well-being and performance.
Aerobically fit children outperform less fit peers on cognitive control challenges that involve inhibition, cognitive flexibility, and working memory. The aim of this study was to determine whether, compared with less fit children, more fit 9- and 10-year-old pre-adolescents exhibit superior performance on a modified compatible and incompatible flanker task of cognitive control at the initial time of fitness testing and approximately one year later. We found that more fit children demonstrated increased flanker accuracy at both test sessions, coupled with a superior ability to flexibly allocate strategies during task conditions that required different amounts of cognitive control, relative to less fit children. More fit children also gained a speed benefit at follow-up testing. Structural MRI data were also collected to investigate the relationship between basal ganglia volume and task performance. Bilateral putamen volumes of the dorsal striatum and globus pallidus volumes predicted flanker performance at initial and follow-up testing one year later. The present findings suggest that childhood aerobic fitness and basal ganglia volumes relate to cognitive control at the time of fitness testing and may play a role in cognitive performance in the future. We hope that this research will encourage public health and educational changes that will promote a physically active lifestyle in children.
Objective To report sex- and age-specific physical fitness levels in European adolescents.Methods A sample of 3428 adolescents (1845 girls) aged 12.5–17.49 years from 10 European cities in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece (an inland city and an island city), Hungary, Italy, Spain and Sweden was assessed in the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence study between 2006 and 2008. The authors assessed muscular fitness, speed/agility, flexibility and cardiorespiratory fitness using nine different fitness tests: handgrip, bent arm hang, standing long jump, Bosco jumps (squat jump, counter movement jump and Abalakov jump), 4×10-m shuttle run, back-saver sit and reach and 20-m shuttle run tests.Results The authors derived sex- and age-specific normative values for physical fitness in the European adolescents using the LMS statistical method and expressed as tabulated percentiles from 10 to 100 and as smoothed centile curves (P5, P25, P50, P75 and P95). The figures showed greater physical fitness in the boys, except for the flexibility test, and a trend towards increased physical fitness in the boys as their age increased, whereas the fitness levels in the girls were more stable across ages.Conclusions The normative values hereby provided will enable evaluation and correct interpretation of European adolescents' fitness status.
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a leading cause of disability in the elderly, leading to a high burden on caregivers and costs to society. This article describes the current level of data availability regarding the costs of AD in Europe, summarizes and compares findings from previous studies in different countries, and discusses the applicability of available data for modelling purposes.
A literature review was conducted for papers in any language reporting data on costs of care for patients with diagnosed dementia or possible/probable AD. Only papers reporting patient-level data on costs were included. A total of 16 studies were identified: from the Nordic region (4), the UK (3), Spain (3), France (2), Italy (2), Belgium (1) and Germany (1). There is large variation in total cost estimates, depending on, for example, differences in study methodology, setting, type and severity of patients included, range of costs assessed and the choice of principle for valuing informal care. The median value for total annual care costs in all studies was €28 000 (range €6614–€64 426) [year 2005 values]. Few studies assessed aspects of disease severity other than cognitive function.
The costs of AD in Europe are substantial and increase with disease severity. Methodological differences between studies make comparison across countries and healthcare systems difficult, and there is a need to standardize methods for assessing and valuing informal care. Patient-level information on resource use is required to analyse determinants of care costs and predict the impact of therapeutic interventions. More data are needed to support future economic evaluations of therapies for AD.
Background:
The magnitude, consistency, and manner of association between sedentary time and outcomes independent of physical activity remain unclear.
Purpose:
To quantify the association between sedentary time and hospitalizations, all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer in adults independent of physical activity.
Data sources:
English-language studies in MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Web of Knowledge, and Google Scholar databases were searched through August 2014 with hand-searching of in-text citations and no publication date limitations.
Study selection:
Studies assessing sedentary behavior in adults, adjusted for physical activity and correlated to at least 1 outcome.
Data extraction:
Two independent reviewers performed data abstraction and quality assessment, and a third reviewer resolved inconsistencies.
Data synthesis:
Forty-seven articles met our eligibility criteria. Meta-analyses were performed on outcomes for cardiovascular disease and diabetes (14 studies), cancer (14 studies), and all-cause mortality (13 studies). Prospective cohort designs were used in all but 3 studies; sedentary times were quantified using self-report in all but 1 study. Significant hazard ratio (HR) associations were found with all-cause mortality (HR, 1.240 [95% CI, 1.090 to 1.410]), cardiovascular disease mortality (HR, 1.179 [CI, 1.106 to 1.257]), cardiovascular disease incidence (HR, 1.143 [CI, 1.002 to 1.729]), cancer mortality (HR, 1.173 [CI, 1.108 to 1.242]), cancer incidence (HR, 1.130 [CI, 1.053 to 1.213]), and type 2 diabetes incidence (HR, 1.910 [CI, 1.642 to 2.222]). Hazard ratios associated with sedentary time and outcomes were generally more pronounced at lower levels of physical activity than at higher levels.
Limitation:
There was marked heterogeneity in research designs and the assessment of sedentary time and physical activity.
Conclusion:
Prolonged sedentary time was independently associated with deleterious health outcomes regardless of physical activity.
Primary funding source:
None.
BACKGROUND
In 2009, the Pennsylvania Department of Health developed the Active Schools Program (ASP) which required 30 minutes of daily physical education (PE) in middle schools to reduce childhood obesity. This investigation evaluated the ASP effects on physical fitness and weight status in middle school adolescents throughout 1 academic year.METHODSA quasi-experimental design was used to recruit middle schools into an intervention group (N = 30) or control group (N = 9).RESULTSPhysical fitness outcomes had larger intervention effects than weight status outcomes. These effects were most profound among at-risk students. Multiple linear regression analysis provided a best-guess effect of daily PE on body mass index (BMI) percentile of −1.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) (−1.9, −0.5) for at-risk females and −0.8, 95% CI (−1.5, −0.1) for at-risk males. Much of this benefit is attributable to the differential increase in physical fitness achieved by students with the benefit of having daily PE.CONCLUSIONS
Thirty minutes of daily PE can be considered a scientific approach to ameliorate health outcomes in at-risk middle school adolescents, particularly among females. Improvements on BMI percentile among at-risk youth are presaged by greater improvements in physical fitness. This investigation supports a school-based approach aimed to improve behavioral risk factors as a means to reduce childhood obesity.
Objectives:
The purpose of the study is to evaluate the validity of different SenseWear software (algorithms v5.2 vs. algorithm v2.2) for estimating energy expenditure (EE) in children.
Design:
Original research.
Methods:
Forty-five children aged 7-13 years performed 12 randomly assigned activities (out of a set of 24) while wearing a SWA with simultaneous monitoring via portable calorimetry (IC). Each activity lasted 5min, with a 1min break between activities. The estimated EE values from the SWA were compared to the measured EE values from the IC using 3-way (Method×Algorithm×Activity) mixed model ANOVA.
Results:
The analyses revealed a significant method (IC vs. SWA)×Algorithm (v5.2 vs. v2.2) interaction, with significantly smaller errors (IC-SWA) for the newer v5.2 algorithms (0.25±0.09kcalmin(-1)) than the older v2.2 algorithms (1.04±0.09kcalmin(-1)). The mean absolute percent error (MAPE) was 17.0±12.1% for SWA5.2 algorithm and 31.4±11.1% for SWA2.2 algorithm. The v5.2 algorithms yielded non-significant (p>0.5) differences in EE estimates for most of the walking related activities as well as for stationary cycling at moderate intensity (MAPE=14.5%).
Conclusions:
The smaller errors in estimated EE with the SenseWear v5.2 algorithms (compared to v2.2) demonstrate continued incremental improvements in estimates of EE for monitoring free-living activities in children.
The Silences of the Archives, the Reknown of the Story.
The Martin Guerre affair has been told many times since Jean de Coras and Guillaume Lesueur published their stories in 1561. It is in many ways a perfect intrigue with uncanny resemblance, persuasive deception and a surprizing end when the two Martin stood face to face, memory to memory, before captivated judges and a guilty feeling Bertrande de Rols. The historian wanted to go beyond the known story in order to discover the world of the heroes. This research led to disappointments and surprizes as documents were discovered concerning the environment of Artigat’s inhabitants and bearing directly on the main characters thanks to notarial contracts. Along the way, study of the works of Coras and Lesueur took a new direction. Coming back to the affair a quarter century later did not result in finding new documents (some are perhaps still buried in Spanish archives), but by going back over her tracks, the historian could only be struck by the silences of the archives that refuse to reveal their secrets and, at the same time, by the possible openings they suggest, by the intuition that almost invisible threads link here and there characters and events.
Previous organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) research (a) has not demonstrated that extra-role behaviors can be distinguished empirically from in-role activities, and (b) has not examined the relative contributions of components ofjob satisfaction a nd organizational commitment to the performance of OCBs. Factor analysis of survey data from 127 employees' supervisors supported the distinction between in-role behaviors and two forms of OCBs. Hierarchical regression analysis found two job cognitions variables (intrinsic and extrinsic) to be differentially related to the two types OCBs, but affective variables and organizational commitment were not significant predictors. The link between the present findings and previous research is discussed, as are directions forfuture research.
To analyze the effects of an intervention focused on increasing the time and intensity of Physical Education (PE), on adolescents' cognitive performance and academic achievement. A 4-month group-randomized controlled trial was conducted in 67 adolescents from South-East Spain, 2007. Three classes were randomly allocated into control group (CG), experimental group 1 (EG1) and experimental group 2 (EG2). CG received usual PE (two sessions/week), EG1 received four PE sessions/week and EG2 received four PE sessions/week of high intensity. Cognitive performance (non-verbal and verbal ability, abstract reasoning, spatial ability, verbal reasoning and numerical ability) was assessed by the Spanish Overall and Factorial Intelligence Test, and academic achievement by school grades. All the cognitive performance variables, except verbal reasoning, increased more in EG2 than in CG (all P < 0.05). Average school grades (e.g., mathematics) increased more in EG2 than in CG. Overall, EG2 improved more than EG1, without differences between EG1 and CG. Increased PE can benefit cognitive performance and academic achievement. This study contributes to the current knowledge by suggesting that the intensity of PE sessions might play a role in the positive effect of physical activity on cognition and academic success. Future studies involving larger sample sizes should confirm or contrast these preliminary findings.
Objective:
The objective of the study was to determine accuracy of the Tanita SC-240 body composition analyser to measure paediatric percent body fat (%BF).
Methods:
Eighty-nine African-American and white 5-18-year-olds participated in this study. %BF was estimated by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and by the Tanita SC-240.
Results:
Overall %BF was 33.5 ± 10.5% (Tanita SC-240) vs. 34.5 ± 8.7% (DXA). There was no significant difference between the two measures (P = 0.52, average error = -1.0%, average absolute error = 3.9%). The Tanita mean %BF estimates significantly differed from the DXA mean %BF in white boys (P = 0.001, Cohen's d = 0.40) and white girls (P = 0.006, Cohen's d = 0.48), but differences were of small effect. No differences in %BF estimates were found for African-American boys or girls.
Conclusions:
In this sample, the Tanita SC-240 demonstrated acceptable accuracy for estimating %BF when compared with DXA, supporting its use in field studies.
Childhood obesity has grown into a national epidemic since the 1980s. Many school-based intervention efforts that target childhood obesity involve curriculum and programming that demands instructional time, which disincentivizes school participation. Stand-biased classrooms are an environmental intervention that promotes standing rather than sitting by utilizing standing height desks that allow students to stand during normal classroom activities. The quasi-experimental pilot study was conducted in 5 first-grade classrooms in a Texas elementary school, with 2 control classrooms, 2 treatment classrooms, and 1 classroom that was a control in the fall and treatment in the spring (to allow for within-group comparisons). This intervention has been shown effective in significantly increasing caloric expenditure. In addition, the present study reveals potential behavioral effects from standing. This article presents lessons learned from the pilot study that may prove useful for others implementing similar interventions and calls for additional research on the academic benefits of standing for students.
To implement effective non-communicable disease prevention programmes, policy makers need data for physical activity levels and trends. In this report, we describe physical activity levels worldwide with data for adults (15 years or older) from 122 countries and for adolescents (13-15-years-old) from 105 countries. Worldwide, 31·1% (95% CI 30·9-31·2) of adults are physically inactive, with proportions ranging from 17·0% (16·8-17·2) in southeast Asia to about 43% in the Americas and the eastern Mediterranean. Inactivity rises with age, is higher in women than in men, and is increased in high-income countries. The proportion of 13-15-year-olds doing fewer than 60 min of physical activity of moderate to vigorous intensity per day is 80·3% (80·1-80·5); boys are more active than are girls. Continued improvement in monitoring of physical activity would help to guide development of policies and programmes to increase activity levels and to reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases.
The present research examines the within-person structure of job performance, with an emphasis on the relationship between organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) and counterproductive work behavior (CWB). We demonstrate, via two experiencesampling studies, that OCB and CWB are affect-driven phenomena that exhibit considerable within-person variation. Furthermore, as predicted, the within-person affective forces on OCB were independent of those on CWB-and the two phenomena were themselves independent. When directed at an organization (rather than a supervisor or coworkers), both were, however, related (within-person) to each other and to overall job performance. We discuss implications for the within-person performance structure.
In contemporary society, prolonged sitting has been engineered into our lives across many settings, including transportation, the workplace, and the home. There is new evidence that too much sitting (also known as sedentary behavior - which involves very low energy expenditure, such as television viewing and desk-bound work) is adversely associated with health outcomes, including cardio-metabolic risk biomarkers, type 2 diabetes and premature mortality. Importantly, these detrimental associations remain even after accounting for time spent in leisure time physical activity. We describe recent evidence from epidemiological and experimental studies that makes a persuasive case that too much sitting should now be considered an important stand-alone component of the physical activity and health equation, particularly in relation to diabetes and cardiovascular risk. We highlight directions for further research and consider some of the practical implications of focusing on too much sitting as a modifiable health risk.
Background:
Physical Activity Across the Curriculum (PAAC) was a three-year cluster randomized controlled trial to promote physical activity and diminish increases in overweight and obesity in elementary school children.
Methods:
Twenty-four elementary schools were cluster randomized to the Physical Activity Across the Curriculum intervention or served as control. All children in grades two and three were followed to grades four and five. Physical Activity Across the Curriculum promoted 90 min/wk of moderate to vigorous intensity physically active academic lessons delivered by classroom teachers. Body Mass Index was the primary outcome, daily Physical activity and academic achievement were secondary outcomes.
Results:
The three-year change in Body Mass Index for Physical Activity Across the Curriculum was 2.0+/-1.9 and control 1.9+/-1.9, respectively (NS). However, change in Body Mass Index from baseline to 3 years was significantly influenced by exposure to Physical Activity Across the Curriculum. Schools with > or =75 min of Physical Activity Across the Curriculum/wk showed significantly less increase in Body Mass Index at 3 years compared to schools that had <75 min of Physical Activity Across the Curriculum (1.8+/-1.8 vs. 2.4+/-2.0, p=0.02). Physical Activity Across the Curriculum schools had significantly greater changes in daily Physical activity and academic achievement scores.
Conclusions:
The Physical Activity Across the Curriculum approach may promote daily Physical activity and academic achievement in elementary school children. Additionally, 75 min of Physical Activity Across the Curriculum activities may attenuate increases in Body Mass Index.
We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine brain activity of higher fit and lower fit children during early and late task blocks of a cognitive control flanker paradigm. For congruent trials, all children showed increased recruitment of frontal and parietal regions during the early block when the task was unfamiliar, followed by a decrease in activity in the later block. No within-group changes in congruent accuracy were reported across task blocks, despite a decline in performance across all participants, likely due to fatigue. During incongruent trials, only higher fit children maintained accuracy across blocks, coupled with increased prefrontal and parietal recruitment in the early task block and reduced activity in the later block. Lower fit children showed a decline in incongruent accuracy across blocks, and no changes in activation. We suggest that higher fit children are better at activating and adapting neural processes involved in cognitive control to meet and maintain task goals.