Effect of an office-based intervention on visceral adipose tissue: the WorkACTIVE-P randomized controlled trial

Office-based activity reduces sedentariness, yet no randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have assessed how such activity influences visceral adipose tissue (VAT). This study examined the effect of an office-based, multicomponent activity intervention on VAT. The WorkACTIVE-P RCT enrolled sedentary office workers (body mass index: 31.4 (standard deviation (SD) 4.4) kg/m²) to an intervention (n = 20) or control (n = 20) group. For 3 months, the intervention group received an office-based pedal desk, further to an intervention promoting its use and increased walking. The control group maintained habitual activity. At baseline and follow-up, VAT, cardiometabolic disease risk markers, physical activity, and food intake were measured. Steps/day were not altered relative to control (P ≥ 0.51), but the pedal desk was utilized for 127 (SD 61) min/day. The intervention reduced VAT relative to control (-0.15 kg; 95% confidence interval (CI) = -0.29 to -0.01; P = 0.04). Moreover, the intervention decreased fasting glucose compared with control (-0.29 mmol/L; 95% CI = -0.51 to -0.06; P = 0.01), but no differences in other cardiometabolic disease markers or food intake were revealed (P ≥ 0.11). A multicomponent intervention decreased VAT in office workers who were overweight or obese. Though longer-term studies are needed, office-based, multicomponent activity regimens may lower cardiometabolic disease risk. Trial registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02561611). Novelty: In WorkACTIVE-P, a multicomponent activity intervention decreased visceral adipose tissue relative to control in office workers. The intervention also reduced glucose compared with control, though other metabolic risk markers and food intake were not altered. Such multicomponent interventions could help reduce cardiometabolic disease risk, but longer studies are needed.