Journal of Obesity & Weight Loss Therapy
Open Access

Abstract

Until recently, sedentary behavior was considered synonymous with a lack of moderate/vigorous physical activity (MVPA). More recent evidence suggests prolonged sedentary time has deleterious health effects that are independent of participation in MVPA. Furthermore, because they are distinct behaviours, strategies for increasing MVPA may not be effective for reducing sedentary behavior. Recent reviews have confirmed that efficacious interventions for MVPA do not reduce overall sedentary time. This suggests that novel intervention approaches that specifically target sedentary behavior are warranted. However, there is a notable gap in research identifying effective behavioral strategies for reducing sedentary behavior. The workplace is an ideal setting for implementing interventions to reduce sitting time, as a majority of adults spend up to half of their waking hours at work, and over 80% of adults now have sedentary occupations. Furthermore, the structure of workplaces facilitates multi-level approaches to behavior change, whereby environmental changes can be added to individual behavior change strategies to bolster intervention effects. Our team has conducted a series of experiments testing seated active workstations for reducing sedentary time amongst office workers. We will present the findings of these studies and discuss future directions for this important line of research.

Biography

Email: lucas-carr@uiowa.edu