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An office-place stepping device to promote workplace physical activity
David A McAlpine1, Chinmay U Manohar, Shelly K McCrady
1Mayo Clinic, 200 First St SW, Rochester 55905, USA.
British Journal of Sports Medicine
|May 22, 2007
Summary
An office stepping device significantly increases energy expenditure compared to sitting, aiding potential weight loss. Obese individuals experience greater energy expenditure increases than lean individuals.
Area of Science:
- Occupational health
- Exercise physiology
- Weight management
Background:
- Sedentary office work contributes to health issues.
- Increasing energy expenditure during work is a potential strategy for weight management.
- Office-place stepping devices offer a novel approach to increase physical activity at work.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of an office-place stepping device on energy expenditure in lean and obese office workers.
- To compare the energy expenditure of using the stepping device with resting, sitting, and walking.
- To determine if the device's effectiveness differs between lean and obese individuals.
Main Methods:
- 19 office workers (9 lean, 10 obese) participated.
- Energy expenditure was measured using the stepping device, at rest, sitting, standing, and treadmill walking.
- The stepping device is a low-impact, under-desk unit connected to a PC.
Main Results:
- The stepping device increased energy expenditure by 289 kcal/hour compared to sitting (p<0.001).
- Obese individuals showed a greater increase (335 kcal/hour) than lean individuals (235 kcal/hour) (p=0.03).
- Energy expenditure increments were comparable to exercise-style walking.
Conclusions:
- An office-place stepping device can significantly increase energy expenditure for office workers.
- Utilizing the device for 2 hours daily could lead to substantial weight loss (approx. 20 kg/year) if energy balance is maintained.
- This device presents a viable strategy for combating sedentary behavior and promoting weight management in the workplace.
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