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Sedentariness at work: how much do we really sit?
Shelly K McCrady1, James A Levine
1Endocrine Research Unit, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.)
|April 25, 2009
Summary
People with sedentary jobs sit significantly more during workdays than leisure days. This study highlights the need for interventions to increase physical activity during the workday.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Physical Activity Research
- Obesity Studies
Background:
- Sedentary behavior is a significant risk factor for obesity.
- Understanding activity patterns during work versus leisure is crucial for public health.
- Previous research suggests a link between sedentary jobs and overall inactivity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare daily physical activity levels and body postures between workdays and leisure days.
- To determine if individuals with sedentary occupations exhibit greater inactivity during work hours.
- To investigate differences in sitting, standing, and walking time and intensity.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 21 adults (11 men, 10 women) with varied weight and body fat.
- Monitored daily activity and body postures for 10 consecutive days.
- Utilized objective measurements to quantify time spent sitting, standing, and walking, including velocity and duration.
Main Results:
- Participants sat significantly longer on workdays (597 min/day) compared to leisure days (484 min/day).
- Workdays involved less standing time (341 min/day) than leisure days (417 min/day).
- While walking bout frequency was similar, walking velocity was higher at work (1.08 mph vs. 0.94 mph), but total walking time and estimated energy expenditure were lower on workdays.
Conclusions:
- Workdays are characterized by increased sitting and reduced standing and walking compared to leisure days.
- Current work environments may contribute to higher overall sedentary behavior.
- Developing strategies to promote physical activity and reduce sitting time during work is essential.
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