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Published on: August 23, 2017
Treadmill desks: A 1-year prospective trial.
Gabriel A Koepp1, Chinmay U Manohar, Shelly K McCrady-Spitzer
1Endocrine Research Unit, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.)
|February 19, 2013
Summary
Treadmill desks increase daily physical activity and reduce sedentary time for office workers. This intervention led to modest weight loss, particularly in obese individuals, without impacting work performance.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Human Physiology
- Ergonomics
Background:
- Sedentary work is linked to weight gain and obesity.
- Treadmill desks offer a solution by integrating walking into the workday.
- This study investigates the impact of treadmill desks on physical activity and health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the effect of a 1-year treadmill desk intervention on employee physical activity.
- To determine changes in sedentary time and body composition.
- To evaluate the impact on work performance.
Main Methods:
- 36 employees with sedentary jobs participated in a 1-year treadmill desk intervention.
- Daily physical activity and sedentary time were measured using accelerometers.
- Body composition and weight were assessed at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months.
Main Results:
- Significant increase in daily physical activity (activity units/day) and decrease in sedentary time (min/day).
- Average weight loss of 1.4 kg for the group, with obese subjects losing an average of 2.3 kg.
- No significant change in overall fat mass, but weight loss was associated with fat mass reduction.
Conclusions:
- Treadmill desks can enhance employee physical activity and reduce sedentary behavior.
- The intervention shows potential for weight management, especially in obese individuals.
- Work performance remained unaffected by the use of treadmill desks.
