Sedentary Behavior Intervention as a Catalyst for Healthier Eating

To test whether the Stand Up for Healthy Aging intervention improved eating-related habits/behaviors of office-based workers and to explore associations between changes in sedentary behaviors and eating indicators.

Participants (n = 38; 76.3%women) were randomized to a 6-month intervention (sit-stand desks + motivational nudges) vs waitlist control. Eating-related habits/behaviors were assessed with the MedDietScore and other indicators. Group differences were examined using t tests/Mann-Whitney U-tests. Intervention effects were assessed with repeated measures analysis of covariances, adjusting for clustering, sex, age, and body mass index. Associations were examined with Pearson correlations.

A time × group interaction was observed for vegetable consumption (P = 0.04), with a moderate effect size (η_p² = 0.114), increasing in the intervention and decreasing in the control group. At the end of the intervention, participants in the intervention group also reported higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet compared with the control group (P = 0.01). Prolonged (≥ 30 minutes) sitting was negatively associated with reliance on hunger and satiety cues (r = -0.39, P = 0.02).

The Stand Up for Healthy Aging intervention, designed to reduce and break up sedentary behavior, promoted changes in some eating habits/behaviors, underscoring the potential of such approaches to foster healthier eating.