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Alternating sitting and standing increases the workplace energy expenditure of overweight adults
Thorp, Alicia Ann Kingwell, Bronwyn A. English, Carolie Hammond, Louise Sethi, Parneet Owen, Neville Dunstan, David Wayne
Thorp, Alicia Ann
Kingwell, Bronwyn A.
English, Carolie
Hammond, Louise
Sethi, Parneet
Owen, Neville
Dunstan, David Wayne
Abstract
Background: To determine whether alternating bouts of sitting and standing at work influences daily workplace energy expenditure (EE). Methods: Twenty-three overweight/obese office workers (mean ± SD; age: 48.2 ± 7.9 y, body mass index: 29.6 ± 4.0 kg/m2) undertook two 5-day experimental conditions in an equal, randomized order. Participants wore a “metabolic armband” (SenseWear Armband Mini) to estimate daily workplace EE (KJ/8 h) while working (1) in a seated work posture (SIT condition) or (2) alternating between a standing and seated work posture every 30 minutes using a sit-stand workstation (STAND-SIT condition). To assess the validity of the metabolic armband, a criterion measure of acute EE (KJ/min; indirect calorimetry) was performed on day 4 of each condition. Results: Standing to work acutely increased EE by 0.7 [95% CI 0.3–1.0] KJ/min (13%), relative to sitting (P = .002). Compared with indirect calorimetry, the metabolic armband provided a valid estimate of EE while standing to work (mean bias: 0.1 [–0.3 to 0.4] KJ/min) but modestly overestimated EE while sitting (P = .005). Daily workplace EE was greatest during the STAND-SIT condition (mean condition difference [95% CI]: 76 [8–144] KJ/8-h workday, P = .03). Conclusions: Intermittent standing at work can modestly increase daily workplace EE compared with seated work in overweight/obese office workers.
Keywords
work posture, sit-stand workstation, office workers, SenseWear Mini, indirect calorimetry
Date
2016
Type
Journal article
Journal
Journal of Physical Activity and Health
Book
Volume
13
Issue
1
Page Range
24-29
Article Number
ACU Department
School of Allied Health
Faculty of Health Sciences
Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research
Faculty of Health Sciences
Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research
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Relation URI
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Event URL
Open Access Status
License
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Controlled